Imperial Valley press., 1941-11-16
by Peter Edison =.
The Inside Track in Washington

WASf1l MI oIN. NOV. 10 - n EOp-
mile stretch of Russian railroad
not shown on any of the standard
maps is now the all-important con-
Meeting link that makes possible
the delivery of relief supplies and
armaments shipped from Great
Britain to Soviet Russia. This shut
tie runs along the south shore Of
the White Sea, at the head of which
IS Archangel of bitter Russian A.E.F.
memories. The road connects Arch
angel with the rail line which runs
from Murmansk on the Arctic Sea
75O miles south to Leningrad
The Firms now hold 800 miles Of
this road above Leningrad, cutting
off direct transit of supplies ar
irving at Murmansk. 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 Muir
mansk to Archangel. From there
it can be routed over known Soviet
railroads south of Moscow and
points east.
Importance OF this connecting
link and the desire of the Soviet
TO hold it during the winter months
is one of the principal reasons why
the Soviet is so anxious to make
peace with Finland now. If the
Firms, with German assistance, were
to push on eastward and cut the
railroad from Murmansk to Arch
angel, there would be practically no
quick way in which aid could reach
Russia's northern front until the
spring thaW which would open
Archangel.
Soviet Russia has made great
strides in the development of her
Arctic ports and in the use of ice
breakers to keep them open dur
ing 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 a military
view it is pointed out that the
maneuverability of ships travelling
in narrow. ice-bound channels
would be SO reduced they would be
easy targets for dive bombing air
craft.
THE SAVING OF MANY FACES
AS seen and heard from a knot
hole on Washington's back fence
gossip, this attempt to make peace
between Finland and Soviet Russia
involves so much of an effort at
face saving and national honor
maintaining that the affair might
well be taking place IN the Orient,
where face salvaging is recognized
part of the national character and
economy.
No one doubts Finland's sincerity
and integrity. Everyone appreciates
the game little country was in
tough spot She was fighting for her
national honor. How she can make
peace and save face is now her
problem. She has more than re-
gained territory sacrificed to the
Soviet after the first Russian-F Finn
Ish war.
Key to the solution lies in the
Russian province of East Karelia,
which the Firms have penetrated.
II the Firms would stop short of the
MurmanSk -Archangel railroad, the
Soviet face-and neck-Would be
saved
Great Britain has a face to save
in this proposition, too Urged to
declare war on Finland as a relief
measure 10 Soviet Russia and as a
means Of putting more pressure ON
German. the British have been most
reluctant 10 take this fateful step
and for good reason. Through
FINN named Ramsay of Scotch de
cent Great Britain has control OF
& goOd part of FInland'S merchant
marine And these are the ships,
specially built for battling arctic ice,
that Great Britain is using TO haul
supplies 70 Murmansk.
How the United States is TO come
mains TO be seen. This country is,
In effect. asking Finland to make
PEACE with her natural worst enemy,
tor whom the United States had
no particular love until last June.
The Firms naturally ask how the
SOYiet's future good behavior is 60
ing TO be guaranteed and it may
be up TO the United States to make