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Show FINNISH FLIERS BOMB RUSSIANS Finns Report Repulse Of Karelian Drives HELSINKI, Feb. 28 t Finnish Fin-nish bombing plsnes continue to strike at Russian communications and troop concentrations while land forces have repelled continued red army attempts to follow up Its advantage on the Karelian Isthmus, the Finnish army's daily communique communi-que said today. The communique, however, gave but little Indication of the extent of the Isthmus fighting, which was believed to be raging undiminished In intensity. The Finnish high command In only a brief reference to Russia's Important drive on Vilpurl on the Karelian isthmus said the "enemy suffered heavily" In fighting In which the Finnish troops "fought defensive actions." In this fighting, which occurred yesterday, several Russian tanks were destroyed, the Finns said, and "artillery activity was lively on both sides." This was the least spare given to the Isthmus fighting in the daily communique for some time. Yesterday's Yes-terday's statement disclosed that the Russians were threatening to encircle Vlipurl with a drive across the island-dotted and Ice-crusted bay of Vlipurl. Of the war in the air the high command said that "enemy air activity In the war zone was concentrated con-centrated on the Karelian Isthmus snd the area northeast of Lake Ladoga." The Finns said that they re- (Continue! An Pat, four) I Column Out I FINNISH FLIERS BOMBRUSSMHS (Ooatama mm pea Om) pulsed Russian attempts to advance ad-vance northeast of Lake Ladoga and that "operations against surrounded sur-rounded enemy positions continued" contin-ued" at Kuhmo, further north. The Finns said then- own air force "bombed enemy troop columns, col-umns, munitions dumps, communications communi-cations and certain military objectives objec-tives on the gulf of Finland and Its coasts." Aretts Front On the arctic front, where the Finns yesterday disclosed a withdrawal with-drawal southward to Nautat, on the Norwegian border about 73 miles below the coast, today's communique com-munique said only that "a few enemy aircraft were observed," and "bombs dropped by the enemy caused no appreciable damage." Finnish sources announced today 621 Russian planes have been shot down since the start of tha war. These sources estimated the total to-tal value of these planes at 2,500,-000.000 2,500,-000.000 Finnish markka (S42.S00.-000), (S42.S00.-000), or five times the Finnish financial fi-nancial losses due to bombings. The Finns reported 1310 Russian tanks have been destroyed or captured. cap-tured. Many were said to have been repaired and used by the Finns. Citizens who contribute Jewelry to national air defense funds will be given iron rings In exchange, the Finns announced. The rings will carry tha Image of a fighting plane. Red army troops war reported smashing southward deeper Into Finland In the far north. Observer along the Norwegian border In the north said a new soviet army offenmivs had reached Nautzl, some 78 miles south of the Arctic coast, after driving the Finns back eight miles. Tewa Abkete Every building la Nautsl ' was ablaze at the end ef a day's vicious fighting, both In tha air and on the ground. (A Russian communique early today did not mention tha far north offensive, but aald red army troops centlnaed "breaking through tha enemy's fortified zone," occupying 13 mora defensive defen-sive fortifications on tha Karelian Isthmus.) The Russians wan reported trying try-ing to envelop Vilpuri, a battered hulk of a city which one housed 74,000 persons, by attacking across the Ice of Vilpuri bay. Tha attacks war based on tha captured fortress of Koivisto, reports re-ports Indicated, but Finnish sources said any over-lea maneuver could only result in heavy red losses aa the Finns still retain big guna on tha Jagged wast coast which can sweep the bay. Vilpuri has been the object of the Russian Invasion since the first days of the war, and haa been subject sub-ject to alasber continual bombing and shelling tor three months. Finnish forces have dug In around the city, determined to make Its capture as costly as possible. |