Russian troops near Maerkaojacrvi were frantically resisting Finnish. forces in an attempt to avoid the fate fof the 44th and 163rd. Red divisions, while the Finns pressed their ad Vantage with a three-sided attack. The 44h and 63rd Divisions were almost completely wiped out when the Finnish forces surrounded them, recently, The head of the Russian column was 120 miles from the main base fon the Murmansk' railroad, The Russians realize that the severing of their lines of communications and supply would be disastrous. The Finns believe they have the advantage, because they have the use of railroad and three highways from, the south, and are thus able to feed troops and supplies to the front to relieve men worn out with a week of Aghting in temperatures from 40 68 degrees below zero, Heavy "fighting was continuing north-east of Lake Ladoga, where the Finns crumpled repeated Russian attacks designed to flank the Manner-helm Line. was oMeially announced—that Russian planes dropped over 10,000 bombs from 27 planes on Friday. The Russians also machine-gunned Finns from the air, it was said. It was officially reported that 446 houses were destroyed or damaged during the raids on Friday—United Press,
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