Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-27
IMPORTANCE OF FINLAND
IN DESIGN OF GERMANY
VIII Be Barrier Between Russia and
West and New Gate to
Atlantic.
DISTANCE BARS BACK DOOR
Allied Tenure OF Thurman Coast
Seriously Thrcatened-May Be-
come New Submarine Basc-Ger-
man Rule Extended to Ocean.
international News Bureau

international News Bureau
mo Kaiser had designed a new role
tor Finland. Hitherto we have been
accustomed to regard the Films, for
All the'r Asiatic ancestry. as the most
democratic. sclf-reliant community in
Northern Europe, and we took II for
granted that their sympathics lay with
US III this war. The assumption was not
wrong, but it's consequences have been
fatal, for 1t led us to overlook the
pressure which could be brought to
bear on Finland by Germany wherever
Russian power In the Baltic showed
signs OF weakening, and 1t blinded us
|" the geographical and strategic i'm
portance Of Finland's situation between
me North Sea and the Arctic Ocean. hs
ltng as the Films could resist the Ger
Hahs. Finlands strategic key lay in
our hands; but when Russia fell and
Boisheyik civil war spread In Finland.
we door was opened and Germany en-
olpiomacy. Bne Immediately made good
nor position by military reorganization.
y! economic agreements which. though
binding. were not cruel and unjust likc
tie Noumanian and Ckranian treaties
ana by an attempt to erect Il Finnish
throne for IL German prince. These are
the means 10 twofold end: First. TO
place barrier against all communica-
ton between Russia and Western Eu-
rope; second. to establish a new line of
communication between Germany and
the outer seas
Taking the barrier design first.
think ii will be clear that the German
government is bound TO do all 1t can
10 prevent Its difficulties from being
our opportunities. And there il no
aoubt that she can best do SO by plac-
Ing obstacles between us and those
peoples whom she is trying TO weld
into her new Dolitico- economic empire
IN Central and Eastern Europe. For
tTP FRO
coring them In any way She can leave
Them 10 stew In the Juice Of their pres
en- en- anarchy and then say to them.
you see, the great democracies OF
inc west are po~erlcss TO help you:
they care little for your intercHts.
you had better come TO terms with
me. For this purpose she relies on
TWO Things: First, on the calculation
that the geographical distance between
Hladiyostok and Western Russian Will
prevent from intervening with an
effective military force in European
Russia; second. on the interposition Of
the Finnish barrier to close the ap-
proach from the west. Finland. under
German influence. means that our APP
preach through Scandinavia for all or
closed and that our tenure Of the
Thurman coast can be seriously threat
ened: In a recent articles in the Man
Manchester Guardian correspondent in
Finland. wrote as follows: For prac-
teal purposes. with u subservient Fin
iahu' ger many mas bccn extended TO
German plans) provide for an extension
OF the railway % Pe;chenga on the
Arctic coast, with extensions to Kan
dalaks CON the White Sea- and TO
Port Thurman itself This would
give Germany an unbroken Sea.
and with possession OF the Thurman
coast would disappear her fears and
her iaborious counting Of the neutral
nations bordering the North Sea"
This design is not yet accomplished:
but the rapidity with which construc-
ton is proceeding in Northern Finland
shows that the Germans attach great
Importance 10 IT,. Once accomplished.
It's strategic value could hardly be
new submarine base on our Hank which.
IL guarded by an extensive mine field.
would be difficult to destroy. The al
lies would have 10 occupy the Thurman
coast In far greater force than n pres
ent. because they must be prepared for
n new German thrust from Finland as
the frs; step towards German occupa-
TO succeed the new German gate into
the Atlantic would be open. Offering
new and dangerous possibilities for the
submarine campaign OF 1919. Only the
Intelligence Departments of the Adm-
rally and the War Office can say what
forces would be needed TO defeat the
German plans; but the merest layman
two together can see that the Germans
have some such plan and are probably
counting on our preoccupat tons else
where to divert attention from 1t. The
Germans have control OF Finland. and
will use 1t to prevent our access to Rus
sa II they can. They are known to
be pushing on the railway from Ro-
nj