FINLAND’S RESISTANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 6

FINLAND’S RESISTANCE

q”HE resistance put. up by the little country of Finland promises to be more effective than was at first thought to be possible. If the resistance is maintained for any length of time it may well be—as has so often happened before—that a small factor will bring down a great edifice. Taking totals as a criterion, Russia presents a military imponderable. The population of Soviet Russia now comprises 180.700,000, of which 43 per cent, have been born since the revolution of 1918. The population of Russia is, therefore, to a considerable extent living in an atmosphere which most of them regard as natural, and consequently the likelihood of internal dissensions breaking out must be discounted. The census of Finland for the, year 1930 recorded a population of 3,(>67.000, and it is improbable that such a small population could of itself offer a prolonged resistance to Russia. Russia, however, has some severe disadvantages when it comes to engaging in a war of offence. Of the total population, 46.100,000. or nearly 25 per cent., are urban dwellers, and 134,000,000 arc rural dwellers. In other words the surplusses provided by Russian agriculture is sufficient only to provide sustenance for one town dweller for every three agricultural workers engaged. Such an economy is not very advanced. Added to this fundmental weakness is the long distances that separate the various parts of Russia one from the other. This gives to Russia a considerable immunity from air attack, but it slows down the process of industrial production and adds to the expense thereof. The Finns naturally are not. going to advance into Russian territory first, because they would be at. a disadvantage were they to do so, and second, because they can take advantage of the natural cover afforded by lakes and bogs and forests in their own country to inflict a heavy toll upon the invaders, and to retard his progress. Russia will have the advantage in the air, but it has not yet been proved that the air arm can take possession of territory and hold it. Whether a dominance of the air will enable Russia to paralyse the nerve centres of Finland’s resistance remains to be proved, and from that strictly military point of view the present campaign in Finland will be of considerable interest. ■ It is. nevertheless, difficult to entertain the view that. Finland can. unaided, for long resist Russian military pressure.