The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-12

1t will probably result in the restor
alton Of the eastern battlefront ant
ultimately occupation of Petrograd BY
the allies-unless. the. Germans and
their Finnish dupes get there first.
These, are the outstanding features
of the somewhat jumbled situation in
northwestern Russia
The White Guard" government Of
Finland is reported in one dispatch
already to have declared war on the
entente. Whether this is true or not,
it is only q question Of time when the
Finnish government, under German
pressure, will come out openly against
the allies.
Furthers German Project.
The government of President Swim.
hufvud will declare that Finland seeks
to realize the Finnish national aspir-
atoms in the annexation Of the Rus
sian province of Karelia and parts of
the province Of Archangel, which con-
tain many Firms.
: But in reality the purpose Of Fin
nish aggression in Russia is to furth.
er the German project of an all-rail
route from Kola, the only Russian
Arctic port which is ice-free, the year
round, to Bagdad and India.
This has been the underlying pur.
pose of the whole scheme of German
domination in Finland. 1t probably
includes the occupation of Petrograd.
and Moscow by the HUNS.
Even before the Finnish White
Guards, or prot German troops, had re.
trieved Helsingfors. their capital, from
the Red Guards, they had sent an ex-
petition to the White Sea at KEN, $50
miles east of the Finnish frontier.
This army sought to occupy the Muir
man railroad, running from Petr0grad
to KOla. and cut the Russians off
from their open port.
Germans Advance on Road.
This effort was defeated by local
Bolsheviki or Red Guards, aided by,
British and French marines, who are
guarding the railroad.
Since then the Germans have taken
control of the Finnish. army and have
sent from 1000 to $4,000 German
troops into Finland to resume the At
tempt to capture the Thurman rail:
road. General Mannerheim, who. COM
manded the Finnish White Guard; has,
been supplanted by the German gen,
eral Won Der Goltz.
This GERMANY Finnish army Is now.
again advancing along the railroad to-
ward the north, and it. is this situation
which gives the allies cause for the
greatest alarm.
~ ~ vNNs,nfkfnnc onN
plies from the factories Of America
and the allies, sent to Russia. before:
her collapse, have accumulated at
Kola, Archangel and other points In
this territory 1t would be serious
matter II these fell into the hands Of:
the Germans.
1t is, therefore, Of vital importance,
for the allies to keep the Thurman
railroad clear and keep the White
Guards and Germans out of Russian
territory along the White sea.
A force of American, British and
French marines has been, at, KDla for
several months. How large this force
is only the war offices Of the allies
know. If open war breaks out be-
tween Finland and. the entente, how
ever, it will undoubtedly have to be re-
enforced by infantry and artillery reg
iments.
Mould Occupy Petroprad.
This army would advance southwark
along the railroad and drive the Ger
mans and White Guards tock across
the Finnish border. Toskeep the line
protected IT would probably be neces-
sary to restore the eastern battle