London, Feb. 19, The German steamer Rostock has been seized by the French Navy. The Soviet Communique Moscow, Feb. 19, the Soviet offensive on the Karelian vent progressed favourably yesterday, this morning's Leningrad General Staff communique announced.
Hard pressed by Russian soldiers, the Finn are continuing to retreat, the communique added. Soviet torees reached the Salmenkalta River, between the lakes of Vuoksijacrvi and Juarapaanharvi, occupying, the village of Muola, the' railway station Somme, ten kilometres south of Viipuri; the town of Juhannes, and the Maksalahti railway station," thus reaching the western coast of the Finnish Gulf, north of the island of Bjorke, No less than 313 enemy fortifications were captured by the Russians on February 17 and February 18, includ ing 41 concrete artillery forts. From February 11 to February 15, Soviet troops captured 475 enemy fortitications, of which 2 were concrete artillery forts.
There was no important change in the other sectors of the front, the communique continued.
The Soviet air force was active, it concluded, bombing troops and military Objectives and downing. 21 enemy planes during aerial fights. Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.