Evening star., 1939-12-13
Numbers Regarded
As Russians Sole
Advantage in War
Firms Supply Of Men
Limited; Reds Have
Vast requirements
By WALTER DURANTY.

ny VAL LN DoNhA> -
STOCKHOLM, Dec. 13 (N.A.N.A.
by Radio There was little news
last night in Stockholm from the
Finnish front, which indicates, per-
haps rather ominously. that. the
Russians are grouping their armies
for fresh attack.
In this war which seems so un-
equal there is really but one in
equality. I mean that. owing to the
difficulties of the terrain and COM
munications, the Russians can
hardly put on front more troops
than the Firms have there for de-
fense, and the Firms know that
difficult terrain. The superiority in
artillery and aviation which the
Russians undoubtedly possess is
rendered largely inactive by bad
weather. In short, many advan-
tages seem to lie on Finland's side.
Many advantages save one-that,
when the Firms die in their tracks
to defend their country and the
Russians die in their attack, there
is this dreadful difference-the Fin
nish army is limited, whereas the
Russians have limitless forces.
There. in one short sentence, is the
possible tragedy of Finland.
Firms Morale Better.
The Firms have a better morale,
and, if you like, better troops. But
when they lose one man or 10 men,
that means one or 10 men lost.
When the Russians lost 100 men it
means there are hundred to be re-
placed.
The foreign correspondents in
Finland seem to be having a diff
cult time trying to decide which
front matters most. They mill
around in Helsinki, and there, of
course, it seems that the Viborg
front is the most important. But
when they get there they see only
part of the picture.
From the strategic viewpoint
however, 1t is obvious that the most
dangerous Ru> al attack is direct
ed against the middle of Finland,
along line from Kuolojarvi in the
north to Suomossalmi in the south
a l00-mi.a tront-aimed at the Both
nian Gull between Tornea and
Uleaborg. On this front the Rus
SLAMS are checked-at least for the
time being-and we may safely guess
that both sides are rushing REIN
forcements there. For the Firms it
is easier, because they can move
troops along the railroads, whereas
the Russians have to cross wide
areas without roads or railroads.
This strange battle continues in
the woods and the semi darkness.
Both sides are shrouded in white
hoods which are scarcely visible
against the snow. All the Firms are
woodsmen, unafraid of night and
loneliness. They know every trail
through the woods and feel that the
trees are their friends. But the
Russians are frightened groups. If
they lose contact with the main
body, they are lost.
All the Firms shoot carefully The
Russians shoot from the hip and
their bullets fly wide and high. But,
in a group. they use grenades with
great effect. Nine-tenths of all the
wounded suffer from grenade
wounds. And the Russian troops
push on together. without always
much sense, but with considerable
determination, through the dark
woods, always fighting with grenades.
That gives you picture of the
fighting. The Russians moving on in
heavy numbers, trying to close in for
hand grenade work; the Firms TAX
ing advantage of every tree and
cover for sharpshooting against the
Russians as they come. 1t is a
strange, fashioned war, in which
there is no use for cannon or even
for machine guns-dark, stealthy
war in the woods, where neither side
knows where the enemy may be.
Where each side may find itself in
enemy territory and not know how
or why. With all the odds on the
Finnish side because they know the
country.
Save that one odd, that one i'm
portant factor, that the Russians
can bring more men and the Firms
have all their fighting men in the
line. Unless help comes from some
where-not the help of kind words,
or resolutions, or money, or the Red
Cross. But help in men and guns
and munitions and men and men.
Must Discount Stories.
The Dagens Nyheter correspondent
says that the Russians are badly
clad, badly fed and take little care
OF their wounded, while the Firms
have hot meals every day supplied
by field kitchens. This may, think.
be true, although. one must always
discount the stories told by pris-
oners, who fear death and say what
they hope may save them, and all
the stories from an army that hates
and despises the enemy it is facing.
Nevertheless, it seems that the
Russians on this front are in a sorry
plight. Either they are second-rate
troops who were sent forward in
the hope of easy victory, or good
troops with bad transport and or
ganlzation. Such things have oc-
CURED before in all Russian armies.
Nevertheless, parts of what this
correspondent reports can hardly
be credited. That the Russian
prisoners have hunks of bread tied
around their legs with string and
bits OF dried meat in their haver-
sacks. That they have not seen hot
food for three days. That they are
skiing with soft felt boots. That
they have no tents for shelter at
night and are forced to build fires
IN the zero cold and that their only
shelter is network of cord in
which pine branches are inter-
woven. Things like that are mostly
inventions, you know.
Firms Individualistic.
What I know is that the Russians,
generally and collectively, do not
like To trek a1one and ara afraid of