North: Arctic Twilight

Over three years ago the Germans completed their northernmost front--1,000 miles from their borders, above the Arctic Circle, in northern Norway and Finland. And for over three years they held it almost unchallenged. But last week its liquidation began. Liquidation was precipitated by Stalin's peace with Finland.

Ordinarily, the nation which has superiority in manpower (in this instance, Russia) has everything to gain by keeping the enemy's lines long, the enemy's armies overextended. As the weaker party, the Germans wanted their troops home, for defense of the fatherland. Although the Finns had refused a Russian proposal that they turn on their allies, the Russians agreed to a peace that would let the Germans go home. For the number of Russian divisions (well over 20) tied up by Germans and Finns together on the Finnish front was out of all proportion to the ten German divisions that the Germans might take home from Finland.

Last week from northern Finland civilians streamed out of harm's way into Sweden. For with motor transport scarce, and roads execrable, it looked as if Colonel General Lothar Redulic, in command of the seven Nazi divisions in the north (not counting three in south Finland) would not be able to get his troops out by the deadline (Sept. 15) and might, willy nilly, have to put up a fight against the advancing Russians.

And even those Nazis who got into northernmost Norway would still be in a rat trap. Hitler's persistence in refusing to give up a foot of ground might again pay dividends to the Allies. To help bottle up the tens of thousands of Germans in Norway north of the Circle, the British Home Fleet sent carriers to the fjord-slashed coast.

Against brisk air opposition, the carriers' planes dived on the lame super-battleship Tirpitz. They scored some hits, although damage could not be assessed through the Nazis' effective smokescreens. They hit a destroyer, a tanker, supply ships, flak ships and radio stations. Any Germans trying to flee northern Norway by ship were assured of an interesting voyage.

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