RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 146, 15 March 1940, Page 8

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events (By Kickshaws.) An actor is reported to have been granted a divorce because his wife created scenes in the theatres. What more could an actor require. * $ * Some particularly strident aspects of our noisy civilization often make us feel that the hard of hearing should be sympathising with us, instead of vice versa. « » « It is revealed that three million more visits are paid to the cinemas in Auckland than in Wellington. Wellingtonians naturally suggest that there is nothing else to do in Auckland. It is quite impossible to assess the reported peace between Finland and Russia, because it affects so many different phases of the present very complicated international situation. From the point of view of the Russians, Stalin has obtained virtually what he demanded originally at a loss of nearly half a million men, many tanks and millions of pounds. The weaknesses of the Russian military machine Ijave now been disclosed, along with a certain loss of prestige, especially from the Turkish viewpoint. All the “blah” that emanated from Russia about the might of the Russian armies cau now be taken, at its correct value. The after-effects of this unfortunate military campaign will be observable in Russia for a considerable time, possibly some years. The strain on transport and supplies cannot but have repercussions which, cau never be retrieved. The campaign, has also delayed many other aspects of Russian economics. It was perhaps inevitable that a nation of 300,000,000 could eventually overwhelm one of 4,000,000. Nevertheless, the campaign has proved that, given adequate ammunition and material, a resolute, if small, army on the defensive takes a lot of defeating. => * * From the Finnish point of view, the peace terms virtually place Finland iu much the same position as was Czechoslovakia after Munich. Russia now dominates Finland. The future of Finland, depends entirely upon the goodwill of Staliu. One must, therefore, accept the new order as little else but the Russianizing of an independent State. The Finns, moreover, will find it very difficult to resist the Communist invasion that inevitably will follow the peace terms. Moreover.' the Finns have been obliged to give up their best military defensive line. It will be by no means easy to find another short line. The unfortunate psychological effect of a resolute defence, followed by an imposed peace, will tend to produce results which caunot at present even be foretold. The collapse of Czechoslovakia is an example of what may happen under certain circumstances. Finland, indeed, enters a period of hard times, semi-bankruptcy, with very little chance of receiving assistance from the wealthy nations of the world, who will, be afraid indirectly to assist Russia with money.

The effect of the Russian peace terms on interested neutrals will probably produce far-reaching results. When the fox has seized a hen from the henroost. the other hens may be glad it was not them, but they are left with a feeling that next time it may be. Sweden and Norway may rejoice that an awkward predicament has ended. It is probable, however, that it is but a prelude to even more awkward predicaments. At any rate, they are loft to cope with a Russian menace without the comforting buffer of an independent Finland. Their turn comes next, and they have nobody else to blame. From the point of view of interested neutrals the situation is, therefore, not better, but worse, if one takes a long view. It has proved, moreover, the contention go often macle by Hitler that the democracies will not stand together. If Sweden, Norway and Finland, had stood together a year ago. it is very probable that the Russians would have hesitated to attack. Especially when it was macle manifest that Britain and France would back these interested neutrals. * * » The German authorities are naturally jubilant about Finland, because a running sore has been stopped in the Russian economic and military machine. The longer the I’inns defended themselves the fewer supplies Germany could expect from Russia. Moreover, it leaves both Germany and Russia free to develop other plans of a military nature, or to defend themselves more readily against, any plans that the Allies may make. Actually, the hostilities in Finland were seeonrady to the main theme, and cannot affect the main issues except in the matter of time. Indeed, the Finnish campaign must be regarded as an unfortunate event from the German point of view because Russia now dominates the Northern Baltic. One can well believe reports of rejoicings that the situation has ended, at least for the moment. The possibility of Norway and Sweden participating, backed by the Allies, would have had far-reach-ing effects on the German economic system. Largely because of the intimidation of the German air arm. Norway and Sweden have suffered a diplomatic defeat at the hands of Hitler. * « *

The Allies must now resign themselves to the fact that Finland is virtually an annex of Russia. ’Whether effective Allied aid could have been given is a matter of coutroveisj. The venture if it materialized might lead to the diversion of troops and money into a sideshow with no prediction as to Ute ultimate commitmeats. In fact, it would give Russia opportunity to continue her own wastage of troops at the expense of an increasing wastage of Allied troops and material. The hazards of communication, moreover, were by no means to be ignored. Finland represents the last of the inaccessible European States to fall into the clutches of a dictator. Meanwhile we must realize that the Finnish campaign was secondary to the main campaign. The troops that might have been diverted to Finland may yet be used to better account elsewhere. Indeed, it is not al"ays a battlefield that decides an issue. The mere presence of troops in a key ate.t in large numbers inay have a neut ranging effect on an enemy’s plans, causing him to postpone or modify a campaign as a result. Each such charge producer an effect which gives to the Allies increased domination in the strategic field. Mt" vhile we must honour a small mti which put up a very gallant defence.

Regarding links with the past, “FA I” writes* “Mnrch 1 wus niy birthday. I "'as 78. I well remember tlie Franco-Prussian Mai, as on tlie above date the Prussians entered Paris Mv father was born in London 1796.' He ran away from home and joined the Navy. Afterwards came out to Botany Bay in Waterloo year. Settled in Launceston, Tasmania (whore I was born) when only six houses were built. There were nine in the family.”