The Southland Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1939. Finland's Stubborn Defence

Southland Times, Issue 23991, 5 December 1939, Page 6

The Southland Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1939. Finland's Stubborn Defence

rIEN the Finns won their War of Independence against Russia 21 years ago their army was badly equipped and inadequately trained; but it was united under the command of Field-Marshal Baron Mannerheim, and it fought throughout the campaign with an unflinching courage. Today the same leader is in command, and although he is over 70 recent photographs reveal him as an erect and soldierly figure with few signs of age. The Finns have already shown in the field that their patriotism and tenacity have not been weakened by 21 years of peace and self-government. But now they have a defence system created to serve their special needs. The army is small: compared with the swarming masses of the Soviet Union it is pitiably weak in numbers. Nevertheless there are several hundred thousand reservists who have been trained to make use of a terrain where lakes and forests provide natural defensive positions.' The Finns are superb soldiers, well officered and equipped, and organized on a democratic basis. Their morale has always been high. Faced with an unprovoked invasion they now feel no doubts as to the justice of .their cause: unlike the unhappy rank and file of the Red Army, who require political commissars and propaganda to instil into them a crusading spirit, they are fighting, not for slogans and shoddy ideologies, but for something real and tangible—their homes and the freedom of their nation. It is not surprising, therefore, that in the first days of the struggle they have made a strong and successful resistance.

Early Successes

Although there have been the usual conflicting rumours several reports appear to be authentic. It has been officially announced, for instance, that shore batteries scored a direct hit on the cruiser Kirov, that at least 19 aeroplanes have been shot down, and that more than 35 tanks have been destroyed on the Karelian front. A new automatic rifle has proved effective in forest fighting, and the Finns have had no difficulty in dealing with troops who carried out the famous Russian manoeuvre of landing by parachute behind the lines. These are not major successes; but they are the kinds of achievement that can be looked for in an army fighting a defensive action, and they may be followed by further evidence that in modern warfare the decision does not always rest with the big battalions. It will be noticed, moreover, that although the Finns have had to retreat in some places they have made at least one brilliant counter-attack. The recapture of Petsamo was carried out with great military skill and with methods that indicate an imaginative leadership. This position will probably be untenable when the Russians attack a second time; but every check to the advance has an obvious strategic importance. Meanwhile the greatest danger to the Finns must come from the air. Taking advantage of forest, lake and wintry weather, they may be able to hold the Russian land forces; and the Soviet Navy is not formidable. But the Red Air Force, although probably not as large and as efficient as reports have suggested, is strong enough to bring death and destruction to the cities, to break up troop concentrations and to interrupt the essential supply services. The most gallant army in the world can be rendered helpless by aerial activity behind its lines. Theoretically the Finns have small chance of an ultimate victory; but they will not be conquered easily, and if they can hold the Red Army long enough they will improve their chances for an honourable settlement. Stalin is obviously counting on a short campaign and a quick decision: in no other way is it possible to explain why the attack was launched at the most unfavourable time of the year. A stubborn defence might interfere with the larger plan which probably depends on a rapid occupation of Finland. In this way the fighting in the northern region is closely linked to the general situation, and the success or failure of the Finnish defence may have an important bearing on later developments in Europe.