Evening star., 1918-07-01
ARCHANGEL |SPUT
|NSTATE OF WAR

UeVeIOpmentS cxpeCteu dt
Arctic Ports Guarded by
Allies.
GERMANS ARE ADVANCING
By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Juno 70 (Sunday).-A
state Of war has been proclaimed in
the province Of Archangel.
The province Of Archangel extends
from the Ural mountains westward to
Finland. distance of approximately
900 miles. and from Vologda and
Olonete on the south. to the Arctic
ocean. about 400 miles. 1t contains the
ports Of Archangel and Mourmansk,
the only Russian outlets to tn Arctic
ocean. It was on the Mourmansk
coast that French and British troops
were landed some time ago to protect
the Murmansk railway. over which al
lied supplies had been going into Rus
sia.
Germans Are Advancing.
LONDON. July Undressing activ-
ity along tho Mourmansk railroad is
reported by the Christiania CORE
spondent Of the ITEMS under date Of
June u. who says that Finnish
command of 800 troops, Of whom 500
are Germans, are marching down the
Pasvill valley. An armed British
steamer. with q British vice consul
1t is expected to make a dash along
the Pasvill river.
A large and well equipped Russian
force. according to reports recelveu by
the correspondent from Petchenga, IL
marching toward the railway acl oss
the mountains.
Great Interest Aroused Here.
In the Russian province of Arch
angel where a state of war has
been proclaimed according to dis
patch from Moscow. lies the Arctic
port of Kola with its railroad guarded
by allied and American naval forces.
Consequently the greatest interest at
taches to any developments there
duo dHo ACIO al .
wondering what the declaration of a
state Of war may mean.
ALI recent reports to the State De-
partment have represented conditions
to be quiet around Archangel and
along the railroad southwark from
development may mean no more than
that the bolshevik government has
proclaimed martial law to maintain
| order.
The allies have realized the danger
and, determined to save these stores
for a reha affiliated Russian army which
could be depended upon to fight the
Germans, have landed French and
British marines at Kola who have
taken over a considerable part of the
railroad running southwark.
United States Marines There.
AS this territory is regarded by the
allies and by the United States gov
ernment as within the sphere of con-
troll Of General Foch in his capacity
as commander-in-chief, it has been
forces an international character.
Therefore American marines and blue
Jackets are mingled with the French
and British naval forces at Kola.
Several months ago the Firms start
ed to seize the Kola railroad and the
ou6A WHICH IL IuHob SldiHl-
ing title to 1t under their ancient
status as overlords of the province of
Carelia, embracing the land lying
westward of the White sea up to the
Finnish border. The allies instantly
gave warning to Finland that this
movement would not be permitted and
II WAS abandoned under protest.
Acres Of Stored Munitions.
At Kola and for miles inland along
the railroad there are acress of mill
tary supplies. running all the way
from locomotives and cannon to CLOTH
ing and provisions scattered over the
country. Most of these were shipped
from America and from England when
the Russian armies were still fighting
the Germans and were short of sup
plies. The goods accumulated while
the railroad from the Arctic port was
being rushed to completion as a mill
tary measure. When the line was
opened, but before any large quantity
of the supplies could be shipped south
ward. the Brest-Litovsk peace was de-
clared and the movement ceased.
1t Is known that the Germans have
been exceedingly anxious to obtain
possession of these supplies. or II they
could not do so directly, to have them
taken over by the Finnish White
Guards, who have been acting under
It Is believed now that the situation
again has assumed a critical turn
through the determination Of the Fin
nish White Guards to reassert their
claim and to seize the railroad, which
affords the only means Of communica-
ton in winter between the entente al
lies and America on one side and In
terror Russia on the other, as Arch-
angel. also on the Arctic, is icebound
for more than six months of the year.
Possession Of the railroad by the
Firms would soon cause the loss of
the supplies at Vola, and 1t is expected
that a small but intense campaign
will develop II this Finnish movement
Is continued.
The probable attitude Of the boil
sheyik government at Moscow, in the
event that a Finnish invasion of Ca
relia is In progress. can only be con-
jectured, and 1t is possible that the
crisis may develop the real position
of the soviets and cause the allies to
regard 1t as either pro-German or
friendly.
Soldiers Suffering From Explosion.
Privates George Shafer and John w.