RUSSIAN HANDICAPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 8

RUSSIAN HANDICAPS

In the central area the Russian* launched an attack against the "waist" of Finland,- directing their thrust in the direction of the northern end of the Gulf of Bothnia. The first Russian successes here were gained, like those in the 'iorth, because there, were only t frontier guards opposing them.^ But the Finns rushed reinforcements along the railways to the interio., and the Soviet troops received rougV,-"treat- • ment and were hurled, back.' Again there was evidence of "poor equip- • . ment, in the sense that it was unsuitable to the territory, and of poor planning. The cold in this region is intense and calls for felt to protect the feet and for heavy woollen under- , clothing. Lacking this underclothing, the Soviet troops would be forced lo - wear the heavy sheepskin shuba, . which v/ould keep them warm enougn but - prove very exhausting on the move. -Also,-.-; there, was no - force,. .„ equipped to oppose the Finnish ski regiments; whose mobility quickly bad the Russians at a disadvantage. .Reliable witnesses report that the Finnish ' skier can march six miles an hour over the snow, and ten miles an hour if pushed, in this region skiing is a national accomplishment, whereas to the Russians it is a sport. Against the ski troops -the Russians . could have opposed only men from Karelia (who would be suspect owing \o. their kinship to the Finns),- men from the northern Urals, or units from Siberia, and these would,have . to be taken from the' Far Eastern . Army. s. , - ".- - . There was another weakness in this attack against Central Finland—it depended on the Murmansk railway. . When this was cut disaster was ahead for the invaders, and the Finns ap- . parently routed their opponents. The line, which passes. .through -difficult , country, was built in a great hurry, in 1916 to enable.Russia to import sup : plies from-Murmansk ■ when Archangel was closed by ice. It was built badly, and so far as is known it is still a single track. . The cutting .of the railway line-thus was a calamity for the northern troops, for the; territory where they were fighting produces little save timber.