The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-13

Eda0m The Films now hold 300 miles of this road above Leningrad. cutting off direct transit of supplies arriving at Mur- mansk, 0 port free from ice the year round. Archangel is usually frozen in from December to April
 Thus it would be impossible for Russia to get British and American war supplies if it were not for this spur that makes possible the ship" ment overland by rail from Mur. mansk to Archangel. From there it can be routed over known Soviet railroads south to Moscow and points east.
 Importance of tfls connecting link and the desire of the Soviet to hold 1t during the winter months Is one of the principal rea- sons why the Soviet is so anxious to make peace with Finland now. If the Films, with German assistance were to push oil eastward and cut the railroad from Murmansk to Archangel, there would be prac- tIcally no quick way In which aid could reach Russ!a'g northern front until the spring thaw which would open Archangel.
 Soviet Russia has made great strides 1n the development of her Arctic ports and in the use of ice breakers to keep them open during the winter months. Claims have been made that sea lanes to Arch- angel could be kept open by the use of ice breakers, but from Q inlli- tary view 1t is pointed out that the lnaneuverability of ships trav- cling in narrow, ice-bound cham liels would be 50 reduced they would be easy targets for dive bombing aircraft.
 THE SAVING
 OF MANY FACES
 AS seen and heard from a knot- hole or Washington's back-fence gossip, thls attempt to make peace between Finland and Soviet Russia involves SO much of an effort ct face saving and national honor maintaining that the whole affair might well be taking place in the orient where face saivaging is a recognized part of the national character and economy.
 No one doubts FInland's sincerity and integrity. Everyone appreciates the game little country was in Q tough spot. She was fighting for her national honor. How she can make peace and save face ig now her problem. She has more than regained territory sacrificed to the Soviet after the first Russian Finn ish war.
 Key to the solution lies in the Russian provinces of East Karelia, which the Films have penetrated. If the Films would stop short oi the Murmansk- Archangel railroad the Soviet face-and neck-would be saved. ,
 Great Britain has e face to save in this proposition, too. Urged to declare war on Finland aS a relief measure to Soviet Russia and as @ means of putting more pressure on Germany, the British have been most reluctant to take this fateful step-and for good reason. Through a Finn named Ramsay-of Scotch deScent-Great Britain has control of a good part of Finland's merch- ant marine. And these are the ships specially built for battling arctic ice that Great Britain Is using to haul supplies to Murmansk.
 How the United States is to come out in this face-saving scramble remains to be seen. This country is, in effect, asking Finland to make peace with her natural worst en- emy, for whom the United States had no particular love until last June. The Films naturally ask how the Soviet's future good be- havior is going to be guaranteed. and 1t may be up to the United States to make that guarantee. TANKS INTO PILLBOXES
 Most interesting development of the German Russian campaign, from a military standpoint, was the recent brief announcement that the German armies before Moscow were burying their tanks. This earth fill around a tank on a siege line is a curious tactical maneuvcr.
 In the severe Soviet winters, the earth will naturally freeze. The turret of the tank is of course above ground, and the tank itself becomes a blockhouse with double protection of frozen earth fill and its own armpr. It Is also earth-insulated and much more comfortable for the tank crew.
 When the spring thaw comes, the tanks can be hauled from the earth fill and, with slight repairs to the tread ard running gear, proceeS with the war.
 Strangely enough, this German strategy corresponds with an idea advanced some years ago by U. s. military men, that World War tanks should not be scrapped, but saved, taken to strategic defense areas, buried in concrete, and made into blockhouses.