Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 1940 — Page 8
"FINNS T0 TRAP 18,000 TROOPS
Attack After Rus Russians Are . So Frozen They Hardly Can Lift Rifle.
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~ By HUBERT UEXKUELL United Press Staff Correspondent . WITH THE FINNISH ARMY, ROVANIEMI, Jan. 2—The story of the Lake Kianta death trap, in which a relatively small force of ~ determined Finnish troops caught a Russian division of 18,000 men and destroyed it was told to me here today. Bringing to a grim climax a carefully planned campaign that started three weeks ago, the Finns caught the Russians in their trap, in the Kiantajaervi sector of the Suomusalmi Front in Mid-Finland, and waited 10 days until the bitter Arctic cold which has been Finland’s only ally, had done its work and made possible the greatest Finnish victory of the war. When the Finns made their final attack, I was informed the Russians were so nearly frozen that they could hardly lift their rifles. Many men, as well as horses, were found the battlefield so weak and so near death from exposure that they could hardly move their limbs. { The Finns could never, by direct attack, have challenged successfully the overwhelmingly larger Russian
163d Division to which they were |
ohposed. Winter Is Ally
| Behind’ the official #innish communique announcing the destruction of that division and the capture of a large amount of war material, lies the alliance between the Finnish Army and the merciless Finnish winter which resulted in » the defeat of the. Army that, a few weeks ago, seemed about to drive across: the narrow “bottle neck” area of Finland to the Gulf of Bothnia, thus. cutting the country in two. : As early as Dec. 9, a Finnish communique announced the recapture of the village of Suomusalmi. Little more was heard, in detail, of operations on that front until a jubilant New Year eve communique announced the victory. Subomusalmi commands the only road to the Russian frontier, 20 miles to the east. Quickly and quietly the Finns sent machine gun patrols back of the Rusian lines to cut the 163d Division off.
Escape Cut of
The Russians had got themselves tangled up with Lake Kianta, or Kiantajaervi, which is shaped like a “Y” with its. two arms pointing northward. Two regiments, a little more than 8000 men, had reached the west end of the lake. A third tried to skirt the south shores of the lake. The fourth regiment in the division was in reserve east of the lake. Their ski patrols, with machine guns, well placed between the 163d Division and the Russian border, the main body of the Finns took their positions. It was impossible, because of the patrols, for the Russians to cross the broad sweep of the lake in face of open machine gun
vanced through woods to the south
fire, and reach safety that way. je Finnish forces on skiis adand north, cutting off escape that
way.
and prey was in it. mained to do was to spring it. The Finns waited 10 .days. In the 10 days of bitter cold with temperatures below 40 below zero, the Rus.sians were without shelter, Their supplies were dwindling. - Their strength was being sapped.
Attack From All Sides
On the 11th day the Finns attacked from all sides. Despite their weakness and hunger, the Russians, all hope of escape gone, resisted for three days. On the fourth day all was over. Several thousand Russians were dead. Most of the rest were scattered in small groups in forests and all that remained to be done was to let Finnish patrols and the inescapable cold “mop them up.” The two regiments at the north end of the lake were the first de- . stroyed. The third sought to move northward to join them and was destroyed. The fourth, which had been in reserve, sought safety in flight toward the frontier with the Finns behind them. Reports today were that the Finns. already had crossed the Russian border. This story of the death trap was told to me on my return from a drive of nearly 250 miles from Rovaniemi, which is general headquarters for the Mid-Finland and Northern Army, to the Arctic front. We drove through northern Dapland in temperatures which reached 43 degrees below zero to the Petsamo front.
N
The trap had now been prepared, All that re-
Tes -
Romance jived and Cupid cut a rug when word came out of Boston, Mass., of the engagement of blond Betty Hutton, above. She’s the hi-dee-ho songstress and she’ll marry Teudy Powell, swing band leader.
DRIVERS HURRY
Hundreds Jam Court House Office to Qualify for Motorist License.
Hundreds of persons jammed the County Treasurer’s office today paying their 1939 poll taxes in order to be able to buy drivers’ licenses for 1940. A majority of those lined up before cashiers’, windows were new residents of the County. They had established residence here after the tax-assessment period. County Treasurer Walter ' Boetcher said others included those missed by assessors and some who “tried to get by” without paying the $3 tax.. In order to get a 1940 driver's
license a 1939 poll tax receipt is re-
quired. Motorists who have failed thus far to| get new operating licenses are liable to arrest if they drive a motor vehicle. Those | who did not live in the state before April 1, 1938, are not liable for payment of 1939 poll taxes and drivers’ licenses will be isued them after they have made a sworn statement as to when their Indiana residence began, Mr. Boetcher said.
1939 Gasoline Taxes Total $30,115,408
Gasoline taxes collected sby the State during 1939 totaled $30,115,408, an increase of $2,500,000 over collections in 1938, records at the State Auditor's office disclosed today. The increase was due almost entirely to more gasoline consumption by motor vehicles. Collections during the last three months of 1939 totaled $6,688,064,
jan increase of $266,000 over the last
three months of 1938. Of this $4,458,000 went to the State Highway Department and $2,229,000 was distributed [among cities and counties. For the last three months Indianapolis received $153,775 and Marion County got $44,716.
Solo
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