The Finns are hastily strengthening their defence lines and are also under= stood to be planning a counter-stroke by pouring heavy reinforcements into the Petsamo front.
The object of this, according neutral observers, is partly to divert the force of the Russian attack and partly to threaten the Murmansk rai tray. At present there is Tittle I ication when the expected big Russian cfiensive may be launched. Many re think the Red Army" will wail mil the ice on the frozen lakes Is thick enough to. bear tanks and mechanized. transport.
Finnish observers "are gradually coming to the conclusion that. the Tussians have at present only their third-rate soldiers in the field. It is thought the Moscow commanders are finding that they have gravely under= rated the strength of Finnish resist ance and have now decided to bri their first-class reserves, 'The centre of gravity of Myhting has suddenly' shifted fromthe Karelian Isthmus {o the centre' of Finland, Jwhere the Russians are trying to drive Ina wedge and split the country in halves.
Heavy fighting is reported on whut known as the Rovanicmi front, around Suomussalml pleasure resort, and further north near Kuolajuervi The Russians are reported to have a urge force there and the Finns are rushing up reinforcements. unoMcially reported that Finnish planes yesterday bombed and destroyed 12 miles of railway on the outskirts of Murmansk, On the Karelian Isthmus the Russian war machine is slowing down tou standstill From Viborg it is reported the Russians are suffering' terribly. from cold. Tents are a luxury even for oflcers, and privates have to sleep, the open, It fs said they dare not even build fires for fear of attracting Finnish planes or patrols Prisoners tell ghastly stories sentries frozen stiff at their posts and lof appalling cases of frostbite—-Reuter, fore Froven Than Killed Stockholm, Dee, 13.
More Russians are reported to be oozing to death than killed by the Finns, while the number of Russian Reuter. descriers is said fo be increasing
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.