The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-26
CARPENTER FINDS FINLAND DOUBTF LII IF FUTURE COURSE
Some Citizens Believe Re- public Will Survive, While
 Others Want King
By FRANK c. CARPENTER.

with many leading men as to the psrpeutity of the republic There are some who doubt it's success, and pre- fer a constitutional monarchy. A few feel that their destiny is wrapped up in that of Russia, and that when Rus sia becomes stable, 1t will send an army here to recapture the former province in order to have a better outlet to the Baltic and the Arctic ocean as we'll The fact that there are six political parties in existence shows the diversity of opinion, but I am told that if Finland is ever attacked, the whole people will come to her defense. In the meantime, the country is growing. MT. Paloheimo 9 leading financier here believes that the population will be doubled with in twenty years, and Yaino Tanner, one of the social democrats or congress, also predicts an even great er increase. He says the Films know they have great property, and they expect to do all they can to develop it. Finland is about three-fourths the size of Germany, and it has about one twentieth as many people. Much of the country will never be cultivated, but there are large areas that can be cleared and turned into farms. THe Army Of Finland.
 In connection with a possible att tack by the Russians of the future the army of Finland becomes very Important. It has now about 27,000 men and is twice as large as 1t was in 1920. In addition Is the Civil Guard corr spending to our militia, winch has 100,0 900 men The latter force is well armed and equipped. 1t has drills every Sunday and encampments and n1anoeuVers at certain times of the year. The soldiers are fine looking. They are fair haired, straight and stocky. They have uniforms of light gray.
 A Talk With 6hlef q 4 60f staff.
 I have just had a chat with Gen eral Enckle. the Chief of Staff of the army. in his office at the war department, as to how the Films might defend their country in time of. war. The general is one of the live, energetic young men of the republic. Tall and straight and as lean as rail, he does not weigh more than one hundred and thirty pounds. He looks to be about thirty five years of age, but he was on the general staff of the Russian army before the war, and was chief of the military mission to Italy, l judge he is older. When the war closed he came to Finland, and he now leads the army. In response to my questions he said:
 "On the w9ole I am satisfied with our progress. We had something of a military organization before the war, but in 1908 the Russians began to de-nationalize Finland They abolished our military schools, and from then until 1918 we had no mil ltary training. The Films were not allowed to have any troops except those furnished by Russia and 1t was only after we, assisted by the Germans. overcame the Red Russians and established our independence fvFa TaaH force We started it with the Films who belonged to the old army ot l9t3 and we now have three divis- ions, each containing three battal- ions, regiment of field artillery, and several companies of machine guns. We have two regiments of cavalry, regiment of technical troops, tank regiment and also q flying corps"
 Ike Films AS Soldiers.
 9ts your army well trained?" asked.
 T think so. The Films are natural soldiers. They are sound and healthy They learn quickly and obey we'll They show a soldierly respect to their officers, and are contented. We could easily increase the army if we had the officers and equipment to do so.
 Military service is compulsory. All are called to the colors at the age of l7t and after 20 the peace service period is IS months. After that the man goes into the reserves for five years, and can be called upon at any time until he reaches 45.'
 FHow about winter tralning?"
 'rhat is an important feature of the service" said General .Enckel As you know our country is covered with lakes and steams, and the win ter fighting would have to be done on the ice. Our soldiers are as much at home there as upon dry land They are trained to march upon snowshoes and skis and they have ski drills during the winter" No Bolshevists Among The soldiers.
 Have you any Bolshevists?' I asked.
 No. The Civil Guards are pro lection against BolshevismE The. are all volunteers and they work for patriotism only The organization is based upon love of country, and it's battle ry is Finland for tle Films" You cannot have Bolshevism with a motto like that. Our peopl9 have seen what Bolshevism has done for Russia, and there is no prospect of it ever gaining foothold here"
 Tn case of war with Russia could Finland be defended?' The Russians
 
 have only three."
 q think so was the reply. Our country is such that 1t would be diff ficult to march large armies across it. Most of finland is all woods, streams. swamps, and lakes The roads are comp .-ratively few and an invading army " uld have to cross streams at every few miles where there are ample means of ambush and of harassing the enemy in every way This makes a small army eff fectiVe. It can move lightly and go across the country, while the large army of invasion is limited to the roads in existence or to those 1t makes. In going over the morasses or through the forests it must move in small units which the small de- fensive army can wipe out
 Here the General showed me a mili- tary map of Finland with it's 35 900 od,. lakes and it's swamps everywhere among which are many islands of trees.
 Our great danger" continued Gen eral Enckel, lis from the sea. We have an enormous coast line on the south and west, and there are many landing places where a Russian fleet might lombard our coast. We ex- pect to improve our Qualifications however. and with the flying ma chimes and other changes in modern warfare, l feel that we are com paratively safe'
 O O Q
 Finland And League Of Nations.
 win you ever have trouble with Norway and Sweden?"
 T do not think so" replied the chief of staff.
 "Raciany the Films and the Swedes are more nearly allied than the Films and the Russians. Geographically we are a part of Scandinavian rather than of Russia. The Scandinavians are friendly to us, and they are glad to have a buffer s,ate between them and the Russians. You will remember we had a dispute with Sweden over the Aland Islands and that by mu-