The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-15
Q NATIONAL
 SPOTLIGHT
Little Finland Plays Big Role In Russian War
BY THOMAS M. JOHNSON NEA-Democrat Military Writer

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 Washington, Oct. IS = Though great offensives occupy the center of the vast Russian stage, the drama may be decided behind the northern wing. Tn that chill wilderness the Finnish army is winning unnoticed victories that confront Great Bri- tain, and the United States too, with ominous problems.
 Little Finland" looms unex- pectedly big today in the para mount question: how this war is to be won?
 Eager to prevent Russia from winning 1t, Finalnd is helping the Nazis to victory and really help ing.
 Something will have to be done about Finland by Britain and, quite possibly, however reluctantly, by the U. s.
 That will cause a sensation, for not long ago Finland was the heroic defender of democracy. Then the Films signed the hard treaty Russia presented, only to face new demands. Finland re- jected them, began preparing for renewed war, hewed from gran ite a stronger Mannerheim Line, doubled her rugged army's num- bers, multiplied its equipment, partly with American aid, ad en- tered relations with the Nazis.
 LIVING SPACE" AGAIN
 ANF4nnish- German army has just climaxed daring desperate cam paign through Arctic wilderness in which the Films out-stripped their NaA partners. These hardy, fiery woodsmen reached the Russian rear, cutting to peices special troops of the Cheka, the dread BolShevik sec- ret service that ilas its own private army. They fought to the death in the crimson snow about Petroza- vodsk, which the Films captured and rechristened Petroskoi.
 Now Petroskol was no part of the territory Russia took from Finland two years ago, but of an "Alsace Lorraine" claimed by both, long held by Russia and now labeled by Finland's president, Ryti, with the Nazi name living space"
 Britain warned the Films to lay off this particular lebensraurn If only because through Petroza- vodsk ran the shortest and best route whereby Britain could send Russia the supplies Russia so ur- gently needs. This lifeline is the railroad leading south from Mur- mansk, Russia's only year-round Arctic port and best funnel for British cargoes, especially now when freezing makes Ice in rival Archangels harbor.
 Which is bad, for Russia's other entry-ports in East Siberia and the Persian Gulf are long hauls by water and railroad, often single tracked.
 SHOWDOWN SOON
 For from the dust of conflicting armies and icommuniques stands out this fact: Russia's back is pretty close to the wall.
 Those who said the Russians should always retreat and save their army forgot that an army inadequately supplied is useless. And If now the Red army re- linquishes the Leningrad-M Moscow Donetz industrial areas and rail- road net, 1t becomes dependent upon the Ural and Siberian indus trial regions. They might turn out equipment enough for de- fensive stand along Q strong line like the Volga, but hardly for an offensive.
 Washington hears not all Fin land applauds fighting for lebens- raum sid by side with the Nazis when the British and Americans don't like 1t. The country is re- ported split = with Baron Manner helm proclaiming to the army that the capture of Petrozavodsk is big step toward eventual se- curity, but with many people anxious to end their ordeal by war and hunger before they lose Britis and American friendship.
 What form British American action would take is surn1ise but there is unconArmed talk that de- psIte the dif1lculties, the British may land an expedition at Mur. mansk to reopen the railroad and perhaps help raise the siege of Leningrad. One report is that the United States government has been asked It's opqinion of the plan. Everyone believes a showdown