Evening star., 1940-04-14

ducts will help to mitigate the asperities
OF the blockade. To that extent the oc-
cupation of Denmark is a serious blow
to the allied scheme Of besieging Ger.
many into surrender.
The raid on Norway Is much more diff.
hcult to explain. The Germans access
to Norway is by highly precarious sea
waters. They could hardly land sufncient
forces to conquer SO elongated and
diff1cult country, defended by a brave
people - mountaineers always defend
their hills with persistent tenacity.
sssr.E .Eu9uous detachments might capture
two or three cities Of the plain by q
surprise attack, but unless promptly rein.
forced the raiders could not possibly
maintain their couquests. Reinforcements
cannot be sent except along sea routes
which are under the guns of the allied
heets. cannot therefore conceive the
purpose Of this apparently rash adven.
ture.
Even II the whole of Norway from the
North Cape to the Skagerrak were oc-
cupied by powerful German forces, It
would not protect their ships in terri
torial waters against the attacks of tho
allied fleets Narvik itself is untenable
as a German base unless large reinforce.
ments reach 1t soon, and that seems i'm.
probable.
Germans to Seize Sweden.
There is only one conceivable explana.
tion. and that is that the Germans mean
to seize Sweden as WELL land troops on
Swedish soil and send them across tho
passes into Norway. This will not be
an easy enterprise in the face of resoluts
defenders on the heights which separate
the two countries. At the moment It
looks as II the only result of this hastily
planned raid viii be to drive Norway and
possibly Sweden into the arms of the
allies.
There is, Of course, one other posi-.
bic explanation which must not be over.
looked-that the Germans may be lay.
ing trap and Turing the allies into q
battlefield which is in every way un.
suitable for maneuvering large forces,
II Norway were to invite allied armies
to come to her aid, then 1t would be-
come a real battle-ground of the war.
Sweden would inevitably fall into
German hands, and the allies could only
achieve victory by storming the noun.
famous frontiers which constitute the
dividing line between Norway and
Sweden. In fact, the British and French
armies would be placed in the position
they were In when the central powers
occupied the bastion Of the Balkans in
the last war.
On the facts as known today, cannot
think OF any other rational explanation
OF the German raid on Norway. Incl
dentally. If Germany were afforded an
excuse for occupying Sweden, Narvik
would be OF no account, for the princi.
pal iron ore mines would be in German
possession.
Russian Interests Threatened.
There Is one n1omentous consideration
which must present itself to every mind.
If Sweden throws in her lot with tho
allies, where will Russia stand and what
will she dor It would bring the armies
OF France and Britain on to the northern
shores Of the Baltic. What might cause
greater anxiety to the Soviet Union
would be the fact that the allied army
at Narvik would be within striking dis
tance Of the Finnish frontier.
Areport which appeared in one OF the
German broadcasts may seem to have an
ominous sound in view Of the possibilities
OF the present situation: Russia is pre-.
senting further demands. to Finland.
They consist of speeding up the building
OF the Kandalaksha-Kae Rail-
way. especially the extension to Sweden.
Russia will assist both with finance and
material In building the line in return
for control"
It looks as If Russia contemplates the
prospect which have already sketched.
Of the whole Of Scandinavia throwina
In Its lot with the allies, and Is preparing
to protect her interests. What view she
will take Of those interests no one can
tell with that inscrutabls country.
copvrisAt 1ele.