Evening star., 1939-12-06
Finns' Resistance
Destroys Spell Red
Army Has Exercised
Bubble of lnvincibiIity
Prieked by Ferocious
Defense Fighting
By COL. FREDERICK PALMER.

To them he had undermined the
basis of sound military organization,
attested through the experience of
the ages, by placing political COM
missars over the generals.
It is about as conceivable as that
President Lincoln should have sent
q good Republican" to show Gen.
Grant how to conduct his campaign
against Lee, or President Wilson
should have sent good Democrat"
as the mentor of Gen. Pershing in
France.
The Soviet Army has exercised. a
mysterious spell How good was it?
Was 1t really better than the army
of the Cars? Although other great
armies conceal their combat plans
and new weapons which rivals lack,
an experienced eye may see enough
of their form and organization to
pass judgment on their efficiency.
But the Soviet Army has been in
accessible to any satisfactory OBJ
servation.
French Officers Sent to Soviet.
From an authoritative source
know that two French officers were
sent to Russia to report on the
Soviet Army at the time France was
in negotiation for mutual defen-
sive pact with Russia, which should
insure entree for military experts OF
the future allies. One officer, who
made his studies at some distance
beyond Moscow, formed an utterly
pessimistic conclusion. The other,
who did not obtain the privilege of
going far from Moscow, was i'm
pressed with what he saw-im-
pressed with the window dressing,
without getting into the shop itself
to "see goods"
The world has been impressed
with written and Photographic
views of the march of Soviet mill
tary might past Lenin's tomb. 1t
was great show. But how efficient
in battle would be the planes roar
ing overhead, the tanks laundering
by and the infantry with its vigor-
Gus steps? How would the whole,
not Just the chosen few for review,
stand the supreme test, all summed
up in the two words Of fire dis
cipline" under fire?
Five days after vast Russia's ruth
less surprise attack, we may meas
ure results not only by Finnish re-
ports, but the atmosphere of dis
comfture in the Russian reports.
First, by sea? On paper, the
6oviets had an overwhelming naval
superiority. They should have been
able to close the harbor of Helsinki
by mines. They have apparently
vainly attacked Hangoe, which, with
the control of the Estonian coast,
should have made them masters of
the Gulf of Finland.
An expedition, with naval pro-
lection, should have enabled the
Soviets to take possession of the
Aaland Islands and land guns and
an army defensive force. But, &C
cording to reports, the amazing pic
ture is that the Films are fortifying
the Aalands and holding them in
control of the Gulf of Bothnia. The
Firms are still masters OF Finnish
waters, incredible as it seems, and
they are laying mines to harass the
enemy.
In the air? The Soviets claimed
$500 planes against the $50 of the
Films. OF course, it was nothing
remarkable for bombers to kill
civilians in surprise attacks on
urban populations at peace.
And, of course, dropping soldiers
by parachutes was discounted long
ago as sheer, wholly impracticable
stunt propaganda. Imagine 500 en-
emy soldiers dropped behind the
front near one Of our divisions of the
A. E. F. in rest billets! They would
be much easier to hit in their de-
scent than ducks on the wing. But
the Americans, in their good nature,
would doubtless have said, Poor
boobs! Do your mothers know you're
out?" and surrounded and captured
them.
The honors in the air seem to be
with the Firms so far, whether they
have taken the offensive by bombing
Murmansk or not. Apparently they
have brought down an astonishingly
large number of Russian planes.
Soviets Are Outraged.
On land? In the north, at this
writing, the Firms, fiercely fighting,
seem to be holding Petsamo and
the nickel mines at Salmijaervi.
On the Karelian Isthmus Moscow
reports no progress, except in form
ing ragtag Communist government
for Finland. How different it all is
from the march past Lenin's tomb
and the easy going into Poland and
rousing the peasants to shoot all the
property holders The Soviets are in
a mood of outrage and self-pity.
All of us know the visibility of the
skater on lake. Be he in khaki,
German green or French horizon
blue, he is distinct target against
a white background, while the Firms
have been unkind enough to provide
themselves with modern semi-auto-
matte rifles. And how mean of these
aggressive Films! They actually
have anti-tank guns without Stains
consent. And a shell bursting in
fro,,+ If q fopk II II y,ojScoc the