SECRET WATERWAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19374, 24 December 1932, Page 22

SECRET WATERWAY

SOVIET UNDERTAKING. PRISON GANGS EMPLOYED. Remarkable detail-, are published in the Finnish press about a huge waterway from the White Sea to the Gulf of Finland, in the Baltic, that the Russians are reported to be completing post-haste while surrounding the work with utmost secrecy, so that very little has been heard about it, though building operations began about three years ago. It is admitted by Finnish experts that the new canal will be of a tremendous importance for Russia, both economically and politically, and that Finland, and the rest of Europe also, will eventually be affected by this new revolution in the communications of Northern Russia. The canal begins at the town of Sorahan (Sorowka) on the White Sea coast and takes an almost southerly direction, using mostly the natural waterways, R. Uikki (Uyg) and Lake Uikki, Lake Onega. R. Svir, Lake Ladoga and River Neva, terminating at Leningrad, on the Gulf of Finland. Geological conditions are reported to have been favourable for digging operations, which explains the rapid progress of the project.

Convict L-bcur Used. For the most part large detachments of prisoners, chiefly from the notorious Solovietsky convict camps, have been employed to reduce expenditure, which is derived from State fund ■ in Moscow, while the government of the Carelian Soviet Republic, through which the canal chiefly runs, has not been burdened with the outlay. While the distance from Sorahan on the White Sea to Leningrad is about 600 kilometres as the crow flies, it is understood that the actual canalising work involves a stretch of about 225

kilometres. Large parts of the rivers affected have to be deepened, especially the R. Svir. Because of small fluctuations in the land level in the various parts of the waterway only 19 locks have had to be constructed. This canal forms a part of the FiveYear Plan, and the rulers in Moscow have made a point of completing it with as much haste as possible, especially as it will take over a good deal of the railway traffic in Northern Russia, where the old Murman line cannot longer cope with the growing demand. It is expected that the canal will be completed late this year and will be taken into use early in 1933. For the North Russian timber trade the canal undoubtedly will be of tremendous importance in allowing sawn timber from the large White Sea industrial districts to be carried speedily and cheaply to the shipping places in Leningrad district. The shipping season will thus be made longer, and all the risks of navigation in the Arctic waters eliminated. In addition, the canal will give an impetus to the new mineral industries in Northern Russia, including the exploitation of ore deposits on the Kola Peninsula. Military experts state that it is probable the Soviet will be able to use the canal also for smaller warships and military transports from Leningrad to the wide areas east of Finland.