RUSSIA AND WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 19

RUSSIA AND WAR.

BALTIC FEABB OF COIfFXJCT. UELSIXGFORS, Finland. Lithuania is Russia's ally. The Lithuanian staff welcomes the idea of Pu>sia becoming involved in war with Germany, becausc it believes that once the Red army has invaded Lithuania en route to Kast Prussia the Lithuanians can move their army into the Vilna corridor and occupy their aneient capital. Yilna. which now is held by Poland. Moscow, the Lithuanians say, has guaranteed them their future independence and also tli& territory seized from them bv the Poles in 1920. They put real faith in Moscow's promises. During the h;st year the Lithuanians have erected an unusually large number of barracks at RadvQishki, Mariampol, and Alytus. There were numerous garrison- stationed on Lithuanian territory in the times of the Czars. Lithuania already had more garrisons than it needed for its own army before the new buildings were erected. Its air fields also are in large excess of its needs. Like Czechoslovakia. Lithuania seems to be preparing to offer itself as a battlefield to Russia. The Germans think "that if Russia becomes involved in a war in the Far Fast the Red Army may cross a corner of Latvia at Daugavpils (Dvinsk) into Lithuania, or strike from Minsk into the Vilna corridor and cross into Lithuania through Vilna. The Estonian staff suspects tlwt Latvia has agreed to permit the ]!. Army to cross Latvian territory. TinLetts have denied this. It is said that the Letts are strengthening the defences of Daugavpils. This work began only a few weeks ago.

Until rcccmly neither Latvia nor Estonia had "xpended much money for armaments. summer all of these small countries sold much of their antiquated stores to the Spanish Jjoyalist fiovernmeiit. When they attempted to contract fresli arms from Swedish. French. British. Belgian and Czeeh munitions works they found that deli\erv could he* made only after three years. Kstonia now is buying from Krupp and Latvia from Mauser (both Cieriuaiii. The Lithuanians for several years have been trading pigs for Russian tanks and otii-T arms.