Helsinki, Dec. 14.
INRUSH troops carried out their first major offensive since the start of hostilities today, crossing the Russian frontier near the southern central front, and headed toward the Murmansk railroad, Russia's most important artery for supplying the entire invading Red Army, unconfirmed reports said today.
Helsinki, Dee. 14, Soviet bombers flying "above the clouds raided Hangoe, Tammisaari and Guir of Finland islands yesterday, a war bulletin announced "last night, The amount of damage done was noi disclosed,
ed Telnforcements to the eastern cen= Meanwhile, the Finnish Army rush tal trong where a major Russian rive was expected. Military oMeiais indicated they were determined to stall the Russian drive to the Gulf Finland, The withdrawal of Finnish troops from the central front, they said. was designed to draw the Russians out position in preparation for eounter=
Dispatches {rom Copenhagen said the. "counter-attacks had. already Marted with some success in the Salla tea font lad cee hector, the northern wing of the een
'There was no indication of diminution of confidence in the Finns' main defence lines on the Karelian Tsthmmus or the eastern front, despite reports that Russia had moved huge reinforcements, The Finns said they would subject the Russian invaders to a devastating five Hf they try to advance to the Gulf of Bothnia across open country and through unfamiliar: forests, Too Small to Believe Although the Finns claimed heavy Russian losses, s0 far the Finns have published" no! casually list, The Spokesman explained that "it would be no tse, No one would believe us, they have been so, small Meanwhile, the Finns claimed important. victory on the central Fin and (rent, where they are trying to Mall the clvaneing Red troop An official communique said that Finnish coastal batteries in the Kolvisto sector had "again lent ald tothe land force by. concentrated Bursts of artillery fre.
Along the const of Lake Ladoga, the communique. said" Finnish batteries broke up'Red detachments along the shore, "At Saudamiem!, Finnish bat atles also drove back Russian trans port ship detachments, the communt-{qhe declared—United Press.
Meanwhile, neutral reports said Russian losses would aggregate 22,000, while Finnish losses totalled. approxi mately 1,200, Bightoen hundred Rustian. "prisoners have so far been tabulated, it was said, and 400 Russian rinks have been destroyed.
Unconfirmed reports said that Rus slang weve still holding Sala, During the offensive against the city, the re~ ports said, the Finns lost about 280 fen, while the Russians Yost about were taid 10 be eon= rye forces near Salla in hope that they may recapture the tity today.-United Press.
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