NAZI NORTHERN THREAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 12

NAZI NORTHERN THREAT

CONCERN IN BRITAIN

EFFECT IN THE ATLANTIC

The reports of German troop concentrations apparently aimed at the Scandinavian States may be over-empha-sised, but they fit in with the growing concern felt in Britain about the fate of Finland and the North Atlantic. In, London and Paris, in recent weeks, the earlier theory that the Russian moves on the Baltic were anti-German, in nature has apparently been abandoned. In addition, the theory that Stalin has out-manoeuvred Hitler has been dropped.. Today the British apparently consider that the 'steps- taken by Russia have, if anything, been for the benefit of Germany. "By invading Finland," it is said, "the Red Army makes itself ,the spearhead of Germany's advance towards the Northern Atlantic. All the sacrifice is made by Russia; if she~ is defeated Germany loses nothing. If she defeats the Finns Germany achieves an ascendancy in Northern Europe."

It is for this reason that, the Allies are convinced that the defeat of the Finns would be a blow to their cause and that they are extending aid to Finland. They are concerned not merely with the moral value of the Finnish cause, but with its strategic importance. They see the battles now being fought on Finnish soil as part" of a new world war. The presence of a German-Russian coalition oh the shores of the North Atlantic, at Petsamo and on the Varanger Fiord, and at Narvik, on the Norwegian coast, would constitute a danger to the northern overseas communications of Britain; it would be an outflanking movement which would be directed towards completing, the German attack on Britain as a naval and mercantile Power.- In this-move Lonok>n now sees the Russians and Germans as fully at one, and the recent threats of the Nazis that if Britain and France intervene in Finland, Germany will: intervene';, also -would appear to confirm this view. While neutral, correspondents represent the German people as largely sympathetic with the, Finns in the conflict the German Government has declared that Russia is exercising her rights in Finland and is apparently willing to give aid to the Soviet if it is asked; This does hot fit in with the! old theory that the Germans were being outmanoeuvred oh the Baltic of that Hitler watched the Russian advancV with trepidation. The Nazis' obviously hope for so much from-Russia that any fears they may have for the future are completely subdued to present needs.