Fighting continued at four major points—at Kitelae, Killaanjoki, Ai joke, and an unidentified' spot some-"Where in the eastern region. The Finns hold the most favourable positions to keep the situation in hand, repulse the Russian thrusts and stage successful counter-attacks, It was understood here the two Russian divisions engaged, were equipped with good arms and clothing but lacked proper food. It is extremely difficult to bring supplies up to the lines with snow almost two metres deep covering the entire Lake Ladoga sector. Russian tanks were being used very sparingly because of the deep snow.
The Finns expect the Russians to continue their attacks because the failure of this battle would be an extremely critical development. The Reds have already experienced the strength of the Mannerheim Line on the Isthmus and therefore the invade ers can only hope to break through north-east of the lake.
Returning Finnish soldiers said the Russian movement hag been embarrassed'by the deep now. Russian ski patrols have often bert seen with the men carrying their skis over their shoulders, preferring to trudge their way through the high drifts, Pitiless Soviet Air Attacks run airmen showered death on undefended civilians living in/Seuthwest coast towns on Monday in a series of attacks, where! fliers did not hesitate to machine-gun fleeing women and children with explosive bullets.
Wave followed wave of Russian planes, the Finnish coastal batteries thundered constantly all day until darkness fell. Seventy-five civilians were killed and 150 were severely wounded. The Soviet planes came from the sea, directly south, obviously from Russian bases on the Estonian islands of Dagoe, Cese! and from the aerodrome which the Russians have just created south of Tallinn. In the rece Russian-Estonian mutual assistance pact, it. was established that Russia would use these bases only if attacked by a great power, it was pointed out. The Finns clearly anticipated what would be in store for their Scandinavian neighbours if they bad ceded to Russia similar bases in Finland.
Air Raid Precautions officials issued an announcement yesterday that "enemy air activity was especially lively throughout the country January
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.