Helsinki, Feb, 17. MNNISH planes bombed the railway connecting Leningrad with the Karelian Isthmus.
Several stations were set: on fire, It the Finns can interrupt Russian communications with the Isthmus, it is stated that the offensive against the Mannerheim Line will be halted as the Russians cannot continue the present pressure without continuous supplies and: reinforcements, owing to their tremendous losses. Roads leading to the Isthmus from Russia are already overloaded, it is declared.
While it is admitted here that the situation in the Isthmus is serious, a mere withdrawal of the outposts from the Mannerheim Line is not considered catastrophic.
These outposts, now occupied by the Russians, are said to be under flanking fire from positions still held by the Finns, great pall of smoke and fire is spreading over the Summa {rot where the Finns are still battling JSesperately against ceaseless Russian Eye-witnesses report that Finnish troops holding the Mannerheim Line Jean, in places, hardly see anything of Russian troops. They can only hear the eres of the advancing men {through the smoke and din of battle. During each preliminary bombardment, the Finns take refuge in deep Jdugouts built of concrete and heavy timber. In some instances, the Finns deliberately, allowed Russian tanks to penetrate the Mannerheim Lino before opening fire gnd destroying the ftenks. The furthest point reached by the Russians in the Mannerheim Line any time is believed to be about wwe miles from the outside edge of lhe tine, The Mannerheim Line varies depth from about ten to twenty miles. Pilate of Pinnish fighting and Bombing aeroplanes are continuously In action.
'A war communique issued here last night states: "On the Isthmus (of Karelia), Russian attacks con-Unued on February 15. Fierce pressure occurred between Hatjalahden-Saervin and the Vulksi River, and fat Taipal. East of the Summa sector, and ata couple of points between Hatjalahdenjacrvi and the Vulski River, the enemy succeeded in penetrating into the more advanced. Fin" nish positions. In other. sectors, all enemy attacks were repulsed. Among the islands, and on the shore, our forees captured enemy positions. Enemy losses were heavy. Destruction of isolated enemy detachments continued at Kuhmo, killed and several dozens wounded, the communique concluded—Reuter.
Moscow Claims Itig Gains Moscow, Feb, 17.
The Soviet forces were driving Fe-Jentessly toward Viipuri and "were within striking distance of the im= portant railway junction, the Red Army said ina communique today. Finnish counter-attacks were repulse ed with "great losses in all sectors, the communique claimed, With the Tussians adding pressure their drive, Soviet forces captured 22 more. small forts, making a total 175 taken in fifteen days, the communique asserted.
Five Finnish planes were that down andthe "fairly Important stations of Lejpauo and Kamara on the Leningrad-Viipuri railroad were occupied, the communique added, Kamara is only about fifteen miles from Viipuri, Tu seven days the Red Army captured 420 machine-guns and 170 other guns, the communique said—United Press.
Reils Batter at Strongest Point Helsinki, Feb. 16, While Soviet troops by sheer weight of numbers plunged through Finnish advanced lines east of Summa and at two. other points today, Finnish reaps in the Kuhmo region con tinued their movement encircling several Red detachments, a Finnish [General Stam communique announced According to unofficial quarters, the Soviels have now forced their way through the first line of fortifications which compose the Mannethelm Line in the central part of the Karelian Isthmus between Lakes Muola and "On February 15, our fighter planes were ngayed" in' several. successful air battles, and during the day, we bombed enemy encampments, railways and positions behind the lines, Enemy air activity was constantly Jover the war zone and was most severe on the Isthmus, where the umber of Russian planes was. estimated at $00. According to verlreports, we shot down eight enemy aeroplanes, besides which, there were two doubtful cases. It was estimated that 1,000 bombs wore dropped by enemy aeroplanes yesterday. Thirty-four civilians were 'While these quarters did not try hide the importance of this Soviet success, they pointed out that it ix {in just' this region that the afannerhelm Line is the thickest. The Soviets now must prepare. for an, assault against. the second line of fortifieaions which is quite a5 strong a3 the rst, "This second lino stretches along the shores of Lake Aeyraepaeln and the River Salmenbaita, Penetrating this Une, if possible for the Soviets, will cost them just as dearly as their break-through in. the Muola-Vuoksi region, where stiff fighting still goes fon and where they have lost very but the terrific rate of fire more than compensates for the light weight of the shell. The gunnery principle of tke so destroyers is smothering fire, the object being to develop rapid JGring under accurate gunnery control. [The rate of fire has been time at 96 shots In Jess than (we minutes, this: rote being so fast that there were two full broadsides, 16 shells, in the air the same time—Reuter, The Russian advance in the Muola-'Vuokst area, the same quarters also pointed out, was facilitated by the fact that a whole series of ice-covered lakes permitted Soviet infantry to avoid marching through dimfeult forest and marsh lands. Soviet artil-ery action also was greatly eased singe suns could command " greater areas" without having to. blast away forests and hills—tavas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.