MANNERHEIM OF FINLAND

Evening Star, Issue 23497, 10 February 1940, Page 3

MANNERHEIM OF FINLAND

A NATIONAL HERO IN COMMAND BRILLIANT SOLDIER-STATESMAN But for the llussian invasion of Finland the name of Field-Marshal Baron Gustav Mannerheim might have been known outside his own country mainly to soldiers and students of Finnish affairs, says a ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’ writer. His greatest exploits were achieved in a off the beaten track during the crucial hours of the World War. Beside the glare of that furnace the light which illuminated his personality and deeds was but a candle, and it did not long continue to burn in a European preoccupied with other matters. Mannerheim was an honourable name, no more. Now in the midst of another great war lie has reappeared, and present conditions allow even the warring nations more leisure to contemplate him. To his own people he has eeen for 20 years a national hero—the national hero, rather—and foreigners who have come into close contact with him are ready to take him at his countrymen's estimate. The problem is to avoid imparting a stiff unreality to the portrait of a man in whom it is hard to find weaknesses. The outward presence, whether of the extraordinarily handsome young Russian officer or the almost equally handsome and more dignified Finnish Field-Marshal, begins by capturing every sympathy. Features, physique, air of breeding, and refinement, even the virile dandyism of a uniform worn to perfection, all contribute to the effect, which for those who set store by social accomplishments, is heightened by good conversation, horsemanship, and exceptional skill with the sporting rifle. COOL AND CALCULATING.

Behind this agreeable and impressive figure is the mind of a dashing and brilliant, but cool and calculating soldier, a sagacious and prudent counsellor, a statesman looking far ahead into the future, and far Beyond the frontiers of his own country and its immediate neighbours. Mannerheim was born in 1867 of an ancient and honourable Swedo-Finnish house. Like many other young Finnish subjects of his time, when Russian rule was, if little loved, almost benign, he entered the Russian Army. After distinguishing himself in the Russo-Jap-anese War, he carried out, at the request of the general staff, a journey of exploration across Central Asia. He travelled 9,000 miles on horseback through Sinkiangj Kuku Nor, Kansu, Shensi, and Shansi to Peking. His duties were military and cartographical, but he interested himself also in art, archaeology, and ethnography, returned with a remarkable collection of treasures, which are now in the museums of his country. But for the present war his travel journal would shortly have been published in English. His career in the war of 1914-18_ was brilliant, and with the personal friendship of the Tsar to back his own military skill, he rose high. He began in command of a Guard Cavalry Brigade, and ended in command of a Cavalry Corps in Rumania. GERMANY’S SERVICE.

After the revolution, Mannerheim returned to his own country, where he found a curious situation. In the course of the policy of Russification adopted at the beginning of this century, which had aroused in Finnish breasts intense indignation and a passionate desire for freedom, the Finnish Army had been dissolved, and the Finns as a people had taken no part in the war. But iu the hope of providing a nucleus of trained officers for a force to be employed in the cause of independence, the Finnish patriots had in 1915 sent 2.000 young men to Germany, where they were formed into, the 27th Royal Prussian Jager Battalion, and, in addition to long and careful training in Germany saw some service on the Eastern Front.

They might well have fired upon Mannerheim, their future leader. They now began to return to their, own country. They were to provide Mannerheim not only with his young officers in the war of independence, but with his senior officers of to-day. That was Germany’s first service to Finland, though many of these men have superimposed the instruction of various foreign staff colleges upon their early German training. Russia recognised the independence of Finland, but her garrison left behind its “ reddest ” elements, who spread the seeds of Bolshevism in_ southern Finland. Wheq Mannerheim established his base at Vaasa in Ostrobotlinia his venture appeared hopeless. The Russians completely outnumbered his force, and while they were fully armed and equipped, he was at the head of a little band of peasants, some of whom had no weapons but shotguns. He had no reason to suppose that the Russians were demoralised, but he could not afford to wait. He attacked garrison after garrison, and won success after success. FIGHTING THE REDS."" Now arms began to pour in, and when the Russians in Ostrobotlinia cracked, the process was accelerated. One of his companions used afterwards to relate that he bought a battery, complete with its officers, from the Reds at the cost of about one sovereign. Meanwhile, however, revolution had broken out in southern Finland, and the Government had fled to the north. Without Mannerheim’a knowledge and against his instinct they called 1 for German aid. Mannerheim believed that he could beat both the Red Finns and their Russian allies single-handed, and when ho learnt in March, 1918, that German troops were about to land be was eager to win a decisive battle first. By April G, when the Germans had only just set foot on Finnish soil at Ilaiigo, he won his biggest and hardest fought battle at Tampere, putting out of action a Red force 25,000 strong, of whom 13,000 were killed or taken prisoner. However, the aid of the Germans was invalable in putting a swift end to the campaign without any great destruction of property. General von der Goltz and his troops, who were by no means altruistic, proved embarrassing and were not got rid of until the autumn. . , . ~ , There followed a period m which Mannerheim faced difficulties of reconstruction as great as those of the war. He had to allay the suspicions of the Allies, who looked upon White Finland as pro-German. He had to persuade them not only to recognise the Government, hut also to aid in averting the menace of famine. He had also to heal the wounds of a country in which brother had fought against brother. REGENT OF FINLAND.

Succeeding in his missions to London and Raris, he was created Regent .of Finland, and it was under him that the present constitution was evolved. This task concluded, he went into retirement until called back in 1931 as

President of the Council of Defence. To the quality of his work in that canacitv the present campaign bears witness". It should however, be pleasing to the people of Britain to reflect that British officers, in particular the Feild-Marshal's friend, General Sir Walter Kirke, have given valuable help and advice in the formation of Jie Finnish fighting forces. , , Since then there has scarcely been a auestion on which Mannerheim has not been consulted. It is certain that Jus advice was asked regarding the Russian demands on Finland, and certain also that his attitude was as moderate as was consistent with the national independence and honour. In Finland’s hour of adversity this great figure typifies past victories against odds as heavy as those her troops are facing to-day. It is inspiration to them that the Fei’/S Marshal, young still in body and mind, though not in years, is still in his place.