HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 9

HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

TROUBLES IN THE KREMLIN?

QECAUSE of the ruthlessness of Soviet discipline it is, of course, impossible for there to be an open breach in the ranks of Red leadership, but the dev#lopment noted to-day by the Moscow correspondent of the "New York Times'' is a straw in the wind, indicating that all is not harmony behind the scenes in the Kremlin. According to Mr. Uedye, _M. Andrey Zlidanotf, one of Stalin's intimates, is out of favour as a result of the serious military reverses encountered by the Bed Army in the first month of the war against Finland. And, if as stated, Zlulanoff was the leading advocate of aggression, in this huge blunder he must be In a particularly hot corner at the moment. If selected as scapegoat for a campaign of conquest, which he blindly or ignorantly expected would be a walk-over, he will be exposed to the full effects of the

JACK FROST TO THE RESCUE.

\I7HEN the Nazi hordes were over- * * running Poland the constant prayer of the defenders was for bad weather. That prayer went unanswered until too late, but the Finns have had 110 such misfortune, and according to to-dav's cables they are finding the intense cold their best ally. Fortunately for them they can count on at least another two months liefore the first signs of spring, and they will have to make the best of their opportunities. At this stage it is impossible to forecast to what extent outside help can b« given, but one thing is certain—in war materials the Finns are obtaining bycapture more than they could hope to import. The reverses being inflicted on the Red Army will no doubt cause the Russian leaders to redouble their efforts, and the Finns will need all their cour-

AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY" STEPS ON IT."

developments are occurring in Australian industry. Even before the war broke out the tempo of production was being speeded up at a pace which, it was thought, would tax to the utmost the combined resources of the Commonwealth, but to-day peacetime plans are being completely overshadowed by the magnitude of the effort stimulated by the war. Of outstanding interest is the construction of aircraft, one of the most difficult of all industrial undertakings. Australia is planning to build 'planes by the hundred, and this on top of innumerable other armament demands, such as the construction of heavy guns, tanks, armoured vehicles, naval units, and a great variety of miscellaneous equipment. What must be appreciated is that Australia hail the necessary basis in her huge steel works at Broken Hill and Port Kembla, and in her metal production, for an expansion of this kind to be attempted. When it is remembered that Australia has a population of little

dictators ill-favour. Only 43 ye&ra of age, he is a comparative youth in Soviet high politics, for nearly all the other eight members of the Political Bureau, on which he has been a prominent figure, are at least ten years his senior. One, Voroshiloff, head of the Red Army, who is 58, is not likely to feel very friendly towards a colleague who has embroiled him in such an ignominious campaign as that In Finland, and Molotoff, Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, may share Voroshiloff's sentiments due to the rising tide of world disapproval and diplomatic troubles with which he has to deal. Stalin, whose natural bent is not for swift and precipitate action, will feel that he has allowed himself to be misled, and if the conflict is long-drawn out and the reverses increase only a miracle will prevent him from using a dictator's way with" an adviser, or advisers, in disgrace.

agt and military skill if they are to block the progress of the steam roller ence it really gets under way. The whole world is watching with admiration the gallant fight being put up by Finland, and her friendly neighbours and those overseas who can help are no doubt studying ways and means of iending aid. If the German people knew the truth they would be barracking for the Finns, and though Hitler mav send birthday greetings to his friend "Stalin those German army leaders wfco do know must find it hard to look with anv enthusiasm on the latest Russian campaign of "liberation." Here in New Zealand we are hoping for sunshine over the holidays, but the best Christmas wish that we can extend to Finland is to hope that there will be bigger and better blizzards.

more than 7.000,000, or only onetwentieth that of the United States, it is surprising that industrialisation has attained such an advanced stage. The progress achieved reflects the highest credit on the organising ability, skill' and enterprise of the Australian people. A comparable stage in the United States was not reached until the beginning of the present century, -n fact which is indicative of the greater intensity of life to-day. Besides its other ventures, Australia is preparing to build its own motor cars on a mass production scale, an industry which, once established, has only one limit, the capacity of the market. 1o New Zealand the significance of these developments surely is that a nation which is becoming industrialised at full s]>ced cannot at the same time expand as an exporter of primary produce, agjl from this angle the competitive struggle between the two Dominions in the British market may be expected to ea§e in New Zealand'* favour.