Finland is preparing for a. three. front counter-offensive against the advareing Russian forces, it was roligbly learned last night. The counter offensive will be launched on ths Karelian tathmus and. the two Finland fronts, where it was unde stood the Rustians were seeking to drive westward to reach the top of he Gulf of Bothnia.
Severe fighting continued along the whole Karelian front yesterday and the: General "Star announced tha! most of the attacks were repulsed. Numerous Russian tanks and armoured ears and guns were destroyed, they said ard three Red planes were shot down, The monastery at _Valamo was bombed, and the towns of Laskela, Vartsils, Valsamo, and Mantinsaal, it was announced, but little damage w: dare. At Suistamo, Russian fers machine-gunned the population, wounding a few persons, Ht was a Soviet troops again used gas against Finnish troops north of the Ladoga Lake near Salmi, according authentic reports received here, 'Those Finnish troops who escaped death in this barbaric attack in contra vention to all humane forms wartime, have been so injured that they will never ayu recover their' full health.
'Reports, from Hanyo reveal that yesterday's Soviet air raid was ihiek fog which obscured the exact number of bombers taking part. 'The Soviet airmen dropped a large number of bombs, many of which dropped fu' the sea, The exact number of casualties is not yet known, This morning, while the weather is cold and frosty, it is expected that military operations will resume.
Soviet Attacks eputved Finnish resistance on all fronts. creating a most reassuring: impression here, particularly from the reports received from the Karelian sector where all Soviet attacks were vie~ tonously repulsed despite the enor mous superiority of the enemy both men and mechanized equipment.
Soviet air attacks on Flanish lines inthe Karelian sector, reports add, have had no effect despite the dropping on a number of occasions of Finnish planes reconnoitred and troop concentrations announcement said. Four Red tanks were destroyed yosterday. making a total of 100 destroy captured since the war began.
The "Russians didn't reach the outermost det neat any point taken by Finns indicated that the best Russian troops were being held in reserve. while, it was reported that a brut on the east side of Petsamo Fi they encountered an advance Russian These, the positions, shot down to the last man, The reports said.
Heavy fighting on a Kuolajacrvi and Soumussalmi sectors and regained the verviaindl Soumussalmi, which nnreviously been obs Finns, "A. number of Soviet tanks and an' armoured train were destroyed by the Finns and it is reliably learned that Soviet launs to the effect that Ret troops "have been disembarked Viipuri, are entirely without fopndation. Despite had weather north of Ladoyaa Lake, the Finns ta prevented a Soviet advance anda umber of minor skirmishes have occurred in that sector ever hostilities: began—Havas.
The rel hele back all day yesterday' in the wild, swampy land long the frontier between Kuolajacevt and Soumussalmi. The Pi were Ted Is by swiftly elec ad railroad in the
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