Helsinki, Jan, 25.
The strongest Russian forces yet seen in any battle of the Russo-Finnish war thus far were hurled back with great slaughter yesterday after an attack on Finnish troops north-east of lake Ladoga, military officials said last night.
The Red forces, for their third "sledge hammer" attack, massed infantry, tanks, and planes, but failed in their attempt to smash the Finnish left wing and strike the rear of the Mannerheim Line.
The Russians also staged a strong attack on the main Karelian Isthmus highway yesterday and attacked the Mannerheim Line over the ice of Lake Muola, but were repulsed by the determined Finns in both instances, it was said.
Some quarters estimated that the Reds suffered 100,000 casualties, including dead, wounded, missing, and prisoners since the start of the war. The Finns estimated that the Russian offensive on the Karelian Isthmus during the last four days has cost the Russians at least 20,000 casualties. They claimed that the Reds have nowhere pierced the Finnish defences to any depth.—United Press,
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