Evening star., 1942-03-28
Arctic Front


structions to step up the flow Of
supplies to Russia is merely one
indication Of the strategic crisis
which impends there when a German
counteroffensive becomes possible in
the late spring. Insofar as Ameri-
can supplies can aid in that crisis,
this is intended to insure their speedy
delivery at Murmansk and Archangel.
RuSsia's two ports on the Arctic
Ocean
Favored by a tongue of the Gulf
Stream washing around the tip of
Norway, Murmansk is an ice-free
port. Situated only some fifty miles
from the Finnish border, the port
was held stubbornly by the Russians
last year despite repeated Finno-
German attacks The direct railway
line southwark to Leningrad was cut,
but branch line connects with the
similar railway running from Arch
angel southwark to Moscow via
Vologda, which lies too far eastward
to be threatened. Thus supplies
from MurmanSk have been going
into Russia throughout the winter
in addition to shipments landed with
great difficulty at the normally ice
bound port of Archangel.
Alive to the Importance OF stopping
large-scale American and British
shipments to Russia, Germany has
been preparing concerted preventive
operations by air. sea and land. The
past few days have witnessed re-
peated mass air raids on Murmansk.
and London reports large Finno-
German troop concentrations for a
renewal OF the overland campaign.
Even before this, a German feet
based on Norway and including the
new apprenticeship Tirpitz attempt
ed to intercept large British convoy
bound for Russia's Arctic ports.
That attempt failed, but similar
efforts are almost certain.
On the other hand, there have
been indications that Britain might
try an invasion Of Northern Norway
From a point somewhat south Of
Narvik, Norwegian territory con-
tracts to a narrow ribbon of ford
gashed mountains squeezed between
the Atlantic Ocean and the Swedish
border. No practicable roads run
through this district, so the German
garrisons in Northern Norway have
to be supplied and reinforced by sea-
If Northern Norway were once in
British hands and strongly supported
by naval and air power, German
attacks could be warded off and the
supply route to the Russian Arctic
would be safeguarded This is per-
haps what Mr.. Maisky, Russian AM
bassador to Britain, referred to in a
recent speech urging British and
American action in connection with
the Russo-German front but not
specifying an attack on Western
Europe as a third 'front.'" as pre-
vious Russian spokesmen had indi-
Gated.
Intensified hostilities of any sort
in the Arctic regions are bound to
affect the position of both Finland
and Sweden. A British conquest Of
Northern Norway would pinch Fin
lands Arctic base at Petsamo In a
wise and threaten it with speedy
capture by Anglo Russian attacks
from both sides. But, even before
such an event, the mere threat of a
British descent upon Northern Nor
way might we'll lead Germany to
demand transit rights through
Sweden, with a German invasion as
the penalty Of refusal. Thus the
primary need of ready Anglo-Ameri-
can access to Murmansk and Arch
angel could involve other factors
which would ultimately turn the
whole Arctic and Scandinavian North
into a major battle-ground.