Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

The Problem Of Russia

By ARPAD SZIGETVARY.

As far as the' Arctic is concerned the Allies should not have much difficulty in seizing Murmansk and Archangel as bases for military aid to Finland. Russia has only a small navy, and, even at that, that small navy is separated on four widely different fronts—the European Arctic, the Baltic, the Black Sea and the Far Fast. The Arctic fleet could hardly hope for assistance from the other fleets in opposing an Allied naval attack. The mouth of the Baltic is so narrow arid shallow it could easily be blockaded. With Turkey involved with- the Allies passage of the Dardanelles would be denied the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which is believed to include the Soviet's largest men-o'-war. The Russian Far Fast Fleet consists, as far as is known, of small* craft, principally submarines. Its chances of reaching the Archangel area in war would be small, even by the all Arctic route. This is a long and hazardous route, needing aeroplanes to spy out lanes through the ice, and ice-breakers to open the lanes for effective use by the vessels following. Therefore a Russian Far East fleet

attempting tliat route would have no room to deploy, and would be at the mercy of a superior force. As for a blockade. The weak spots now are the Russian-German frontier and the Black Sea. The Allies, under existing conditions, .cannot reach these. With Russia and Turkey in the conflict traffic in Russian oil from Baku across the Black Sea could be cut off. If the Russians and/or Germans attacked Rumania for her oil aud foodstuffs Allied troops could legitimately be sent there, beeause Britain and Fiance have guaranteed Rumania in the event of aggression. Even now it is reported that Germany is disappointed at the amount of supplies received from Russia—Russia has little to spare. Russia has an army mighty in size, but its verv va.stness may well be of aid to'the Allies. A vast army needs vast supplies, not only of military necessities, but, of course, foodstuffs and other things. With little to fjpare for Germany now, if Russia were to enter the war she would need

everything for herself, and, therefore, would unavoidably blockade the frontiers on behalf of the Allies. We must remember, too, that Germany is, in reality, seared of Russia. Not that she was ever really scared of the Russian Army. The success of the Finns against overwhelming odds lias confirmed the opinion long held by Germany's military heads that the Russians, in common with other people, make magnificent soldiers if properly led and treated, but without leadership are so much cannon fodder despite the bravery of the individual. The war with Finland seems to prove that just as in Imperial Russia days the indisputably brave "Ivan Ivanovitcli" (the "Tommy Atkins" of the Russian Ariny) suffered through lack of leadership. Therefore it is not so much the Russian Army that Germany is scared of, but Communism. Naziism is but a form of Communism, but it was adopted in a form of Communism more suited to the German people, just as Fascism is a form of Communism more adapted to the Italian people. All the peoples of Russia, Germany and Italy do not agree that the form of their Government is best for their own country, but heads of their Governments do, and that is where the matter rests for the present.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19400323.2.159.5

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

Word Count
570

The Problem Of Russia Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

The Problem Of Russia Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)