COMING BATTLES IN BALTIC

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 223, 17 June 1944, Page 6

COMING BATTLES IN BALTIC

Russian Move Begun ALLIES MAY STRIKE FROM WEST (From Godfrey Blunden Special Correspondent.) STOCKHOLM, June 12. The Finnish leaders miscalculated the direction of the Russian summer offensive launched on Saturday, according to information here. They expected the Russians to attempt to drive I lie Germans from the Baltic States before attacking them. They were counting on this extra time to prepare for the Russian attack.

It is believed now that the outlook is grave for Finland, especially if the Russians decide to press their attack beyond the limit of their previous advance in 1940. Though the Russians are pushing steadily ahead, they have not yet reached the former Finnish winter line, which is the Filins’ strongest defence line. Swedish correspondents in Finland say the Russians are attacking with 16 divisions supported by 1000 aircraft. This, they say, is 10 divisions fewer than the Russians used during the winter war with Finland. But Russian tactics are much the same. Heavy artillery barrages are followed by infantry and tank attacks without regard for casualties. It is pointed out that Marshal Stalins statement lust December that Russia had no territorial designs on Finland beyond the frontier of May, 1940, may no longer hold because the Finns rejected his peace offer. Protecting Flank. From a military point of view the Russian attack on Finland is a sound strategical move. It is important foi Russia to control the northern and eastern seaboard of the Gulf of Finland. Ihis will protect her northern flank and free the Red Army to. press through the Baltic States to Riga, Latvia. As a consequence of the Russian offensive Sweden has mobilized more men and extended the mining of her west Mast. The Swedish Prime Minister, Mr. Hansson, said at the weekend that the Swedish people should not regard .Sweden s entry into the war as inevitable, but present measures were precautionary owing to the “tense situation.” First tremors of a Russian earthquake which may split the Baltic and shake loose the German grip on iScandinavia are being felt here in Sweden. It has been essential to Germany to prevent any access to the Baltic Sea by her enemies because the Baltic seaboard is her weakest line of defence, and because she needs to maintain trade in nickel, iron, and other essential war materials in this area. To prevent entry to the Baltic she seized Denmark and Norway in the west, but a powerful army in north Finland, armed and trained the Finnish Army, and now has some of net best troops along the front which skirts the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, . . Thus, Germany has drawn an iron rm„ round Scandinavia with neutral and nervous Sweden in the centre.. But there are signs that this iron ring may be cracked; The Russians now hold a front extending from Narva, on the Finnish Gulf, directly south to the railway centre of Pskov, and then in an oblique line to Vitebsk. Battle of Navies. ■The obvious direction for a Russian' offensive is straight from Pskov to Riga, and to establish a defence line on the River Dvina. This would cut off the whole Estonian peninsula Russian naval and air forces then based m the islands of Dago and Ose, off the Ou If of Riga, would command the northern Baltic bea. Already some observers believe they see signs of Russian preparations for this m ßeports°are constantly to hand about, Russian naval activity in the Gull or Iffinland. We have been recently ie minded by the Germans that they were unable to destroy the Russians naval forces at Kronstadt, the Russians’ inland natal base off Leningrad. Kronstadt was never seriously damaged on account of its intense antiaircraft defences, but many Russian warships were tied up to the wharves in Leningrad, and used because fortress batteries were damaged. It is not known to what extent the Russians have repaired these vessels. Some estimate they’ve two battlesnips, six cruisers. 20 destroyers, and about 30 submarines sheltering in and neat Leningrad, but this may be an exaggeratloThe problem for the Russians is to get whatever force they have out and into the Baltic where they could go to work on German shipping and neutral shipping‘supplying the Germans. But the Bay of Finland is heavily mined between Narva, Kotka and other places, while at a narrow neck about 30 miles wide near the island of Nargen there aie shore batteries which cover all approaches. The Russian plan has been to advance island by island from Kronstadt. Already the effect of activity in the Gulf of Finland has been to divert German shipping from Kotka and Helsinki to Hango and Abo. Even if the Russian Arnjy is able to push through 170 miles from Pskov to Riga, cut off the Estonian Peninsula, and establish a line along the Dvina, it is' likely that the Germans would attempt to hold the islands of Dago and Osel, in the Gulf of Riga. It is also probable that they would establish naval bases in the Aula nd Islands. Powerful German Force. In support of these bases the Germans would no doubt divert a portion of their Baltic fleet. This is still by far the most powerful force in these waters, and consists of two pocket battleships, the Scharnhorst and the Prinz Eugen, four heavy cruisers, and about 20 destroyers. The aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin is reported out of commission owing to mechanical defects. . This licet is in regular training and might severely test the Red Navy, which is probably without practice and inadequately docked. The Baltic, ot course, has always been the main base for the German submarine fleet. There is another aspect of the Baltic situation —the possibility of a Britisu and American invasion of Denmark It has often been pointed out that Denmark offers better opportunities for landings than most, other sections of the European coastline, and also that the Danish archipelago would be suitable for commando landings. The land route from .Jutland to many is narrow and hazardous, and could easily be defended even if the Allies were able U’ establish themselves in Jutland. On the other hand, if following the dismantlement of German fortifications on the Danish coast, Allied naval units were able to clear the Skaggernk and Kattegat, the way would open to the Baltic, -t hen it would be possible to outflank thg nest Wall and attack Germany on her weakest coast. t Just as the Russians nngh cut oit German forces in Finland, so the B rl ’ tish and American seizure of Denmark would cut off von Falkenls-rst s army oi 12 divisions in Norway. A combined British-American-Soviet attack on the Baltic therefore offers an important threat to Germany. It is not for n ‘ >th ‘ ing that she has Denmark and the Baltic States packed with her best troops.