The War in Finland
The return of severe Arctic weather on the Finnish eastern front has destroyed any hopes the Russians may have had that a thaw would come to deny the Finns the use of their skis. A few days ago the position on the Salla front appeared dangerous, for it was reported that fresh Russian troops had been brought up on the hastily repaired railway or landed by aeroplane for a new and bigger offen- sive. But later reports tell of two Russian companies dispersed in this area, and the main body suffering from the ceaseless harassing tactics of the swift-moving Finns. Unable to achieve real military successes, or indeed to avoid defeat, the Russians have reverted to indiscriminate attacks on towns and villages from the air. In places defended by anti-aircraft guns their 'planes have flown at a height of o,000 feet or more, and have dropped bombs blindly. But over undefended villages they have flown low, dropping incendiary bombs and machine-gunning civilians It is amazing that the loss of life should have been so compara- tively small. An A.R.P. report for last week records that in 42 places outside the war-zone where more than 2,000 bombs were dropped the civilian casualties were only 18 killed and 93 injured, mostly women. Against these attacks the Finns are putting up an effective fight both with aero- planes and guns, bringing down many enemy bombers. But the need for fighter aircraft is urgent.
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