Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-03
Spring Has Opened
SEQ Road to Russia
Writer Explains North Route
By Which American Supplies
Are Moving to Soviet Armies
BIZ Bertrdn, Benedict.

By Bertram Benedict.
A naval engagement occurred recently
in the Arctic Ocean between German
submarines and destroyers on the one
hand and a joint British Russian naval
force on the other hand. The British
and Russian warships were conveying
supply ships proceeding north of Norway
to Russian port. presumably Muir
mansk. With the coming of spring, and
with the escape of two German battle
ships and one large German cruiser last
February from Brest into the North Sea,
the major naval battles of 1912 may
take place In waters north Of the Arctic
Circle.
Now that the whole Mediterranean is
closed to shipping Of the United Ma
tons, and now that the western Pacific
north of Australia is dominated by the
Japanese Navy. the most practicable
route for American supplies to the Soviet
Union may be around the North Cape
of Norway. The distance from Iceland
to Murmansk is about the same as the
distance from Glasgow to Murmansk.
The Soviet Union possesses two good
ports on its northern coast, Murmansk
and Archangel Each is the terminus
of a railroad running south into the
heart of Russia; each has extensive
harbor facilities. Unfortunately, the
railroad from Murmansk is in Axis
hands along the shores OF Lake Omega,
northeast of Leningrad. In this sector
the Russian armies have pushed the
Axis forces back, and are trying desper-
ately to drive them away from the rail-
road altogether. Axis forces along the
extreme northeast Finnish frontier are
pointing at Murmansk; the Soviet Union
is trying to outfiank them.
1t is one of the ironies of geography
that Murmansk, some ITS miles north
of the Arctic Circle, normally should
be open throughout the year, with ice
breakers seldom needed. while Archangel,
some $50 miles south of the Arctic Circle,
normally is closed by ice for at least
six months.
Murmansk, at the extreme northwest
ern tip of Russia, gets the effect of part
VI Ile oO-CdllCO AL1dllGAN AAts 4AlC N4tJ
Is on the Kola Inlet, IS miles from
the Arctic Ocean (Barents Sea-. Until
1915 Murmansk was little more than a
collection Of mud huts, but in that year
the railroad north from Leningrad
(then Petrograd was completed. The
railroad joins other rail lines some dis
lance east of Leningrad, at Svanka.
Archangel lies at the southeast corner
of the White Sea, the huge gulf Of the
Arctic Ocean which cuts deeply into
Northwest Russia The White Sea Is
comparatively shallow and, feeling the
full effect Of Arctic currents, is apt to
be frozen over from November to May
Archangel is one Of the historic ports
of Europe 1t was frequented by Morse
men long before Columbus discovery
of America, and the first permanent
settlement was made by English in the
10th century. The port languished after
Peter the Great founded st. Petersburg
as his capital early in the 18th century,
but later came back. During World
War the railroad south from Archangel
was double tracked all the way to its
junction with other roads at Vologda.
Archangel is also the northern terminus
Of an extensive canal system.
The Murmansk railroad touches the
White Sea at several points. If part OF
the road south of the White Sea should
remain in Axis hands, supplies from
Murmansk could be shipped across the
White Sea to Archangel.
1t is one of the ironies Of history that
after the Communist revolution in Rus
STA, American and Allied troops should
have occupied and held Murmansk and
Archangel, over armed resistance from
Russian forces. The reason given was
the protection of supplies shipped to the
two ports and stored there