Evening star., 1943-04-07
German North Front
Offers Opportunities
Maj. Eliot Sees BoItie Area
As Possible Scene of Action
On Lines Proposed in 1915

-'~~ oS~S o~sssS SNSo
As Possible Scene Of Action
On Lines Proposed in 1915
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.
In recent articles We have examined
certain basic geographic conditions az
fecting the invasion of Germany from
the east, west and south. In this article
we shall consider Germanys northern
front.
The principal geographic feature here
Is the Baltic Sea, which in the war of
1914-l918, and 80 far in this one, has been
for all military purposes 4 German lake.
from the North Sea and the Atlantic
that OF the Skagerrack and Kattegat,
between Denmark and the Scandinavian
peninsula, and that Of the Kiel Canal
In both wars, the latter has been firmly
in German possession.
The former was closed during the last
war by the neutrality of the states con-
trolling 1t, neutrality which was at all
times bolstered by German threats and
pressure. In this war, the Germans took
early occasion to possess themselves of
the Norwegian and Danish territory
commanding this entrance. In both wars
the effect OF German military operations
was such as to push the Russians back
along the Baltic shore and thus gradu-
ally to deprive the Russian feet of Its
freedom OF action.
In both wars, therefore, the Germans
have had every reason to feel secure as
against any possible attack in force on
their Baltic coast. It Is true that when
Admiral OF tho Fleet Lord Fisher was
First Sea Lord he had project for send
ing the British Navy into the Baltic to
cover tho landing of Russian troops ON
the Pomeranian coast, only 80 miles from
Berlin. In this he was overruled and It
remains = subject for speculation as to
whether such an operation could at that
time Q915 have been successful. Lord
Fisher maintained to the end Of his days
that it would have been better use Of
ships and men than the ill-fated Dar-
danelies expedition, because 1t would have
struck at the heart Of the enemy and not
at his outlying positions.
Whether the Baltic can continue to be
protection for Germany against attack
from the north during the remainder of
this war Is decidedly open to question.
In the first place 1t is a narrow sea that
offers no obstacle to air operation United
Nations air power based in Scandinavia
would be a terrible threat to Germany's
vital centers. At the moment the Ger
mans have locked and barred the ap-
proaches to the Scandinavian peninsula
by their possession Of Norway and Den
mark on one hand and Of Finland and
tho Russian Baltic coast on the other.
But those conditions may not be per-
manent
German communications with Norway,
and within that country itself, are poor.
The defense Of the long Norwegian coast
line against attack from the sea Is q
heavy military responsibility, and one
which Germany may not have the forces
to meet. Very likely Germany would be
compelled to seek the use Of Swedish
railways to bolster her Norwegian garri-
sons, and that might very we'll result in
bringing Sweden into the war on the
Allied side.
Finland IS wavering and uncertain
associate for the Germans. Russian pres
sure In the Leningrad-Lake linen areas
may easily bring about military changes
which will give the Russians more coast
line and cut OF German communications
with Finland. Should the German Navy
sustain further losses OF surface vessels
IN Atlantic operations, circumstances
might arise In which the Swedish fleet
might hold the balance of naval power
In the Baltic. The fiat land bridge Of the
Danish peninsula, 50 useful to Germany
when the latter was on the offensive and
desired to project her power northward,
may become q source OF weakness to 4
Germany on the defensive should Allied
power become established in Norway or
Sweden.
Thus the German northern front,
though ostensibly secure At present, Is
m area Of much uncertainty for the
future. 1t affords many opportunities for
an enterprising policy On the part Of the
United Nations high command. Tho
Germans, for their part, can no longer
afford to turn their backs upon It and
devote their attention to the east, the
west or the south.
For the first time since Bismarck
forged the German empire out Of the
blood and iron of his successful wars,
there are danger signals In the northern
skies
Copyright 1e43, N. r Tribune lne)