NORTHERN THEATRE: 36-to-1

To the nations, dominions, empires actively engaged in World War II, last week came two additions. Russia, Germany's silent and equivocal partner, having made a jackal's feast off conquered Poland, and having taken advantage of the western conflict to subject the three smaller Baltic countries, ran into armed resistance when she tried the same move on Finland (see p. 26).

By Russian accounts the long night of Nov. 29-30 was a lively one along the Russo-Finnish border west and north of Lake Laatokka. At 2 a. m., at 3:15 a. m., again at 4 a. m., Finnish soldiers "invaded" Russia (according to Moscow). To punish this "aggression," the Red Army, signaled by green rockets, started rolling at 8 a. m.

Unlike their occupation of Poland, where they marched in upon the rear of an already demoralized foe, this attack was upon a well-prepared, straight-shooting, determined people facing front. It was at least 2,000,000 trained men and 5,000 airplanes against 200,000 trained men and 150 airplanes, but the tough-fibred Finns provided a test for the Red war machine which the rest of the world watched intently. From the outset it was apparent that the Reds could not match the Nazis at Blitzkrieg.

First came the droves of bombing planes over all main Finnish cities. Apparently most came from Russia's new bases in Estonia (see map). They showed ability in reaching their objectives on schedule in formation through low, overcast clouds, but their bombing aim was wretched. At Helsinki, the capital, they aimed at the big central railroad station, freight yards, post office, and at the west harbor (navy yard, transatlantic piers), but mostly hit apartment houses blocks away, shattered the windows of their own legation. Aiming at the city's water supply, they hit the new Olympic Stadium. They killed scores of women & children, put out the city's lights, pocked the airport and factory section, wrecked the new Technical Institute, but in two days of bombing did not succeed in impairing communications. Thermit incendiary bombs* set the west end of Helsinki ablaze. Other prime targets were the ports of Viipuri, Kotka, Hangö, Turku and Vaasa, the big power plant at Imatra, gas mask factory at Lahti. After unloading their bombs, the planes swooped to machine-gun their objectives. Finnish anti-aircraft guns and fighting planes shot down a dozen or more Red attackers, whose pilots expressed surprise. They had been told it was safe to bomb anywhere in Finland. One of the pilots taken was an 18-year-old girl. Three fliers who fell into the hands of a mob of Finnish women & children were soon killed with axes, pitchforks, shotguns.

The new coalition Government formed under Risto Ryti met in a vault under the National Bank, of which he is president, prepared to withdraw to Vaasa on the west coast when Helsinki became unlivable. The U. S. Legation withdrew to Grankulla, down the Gulf coast to the west. Departing householders were asked to water their homes inside and out before leaving, to form ice insulation against incendiary bombs.