ABROAD

OSLO Border Raids

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has been worrying for some time about raids across its 122-mile Arctic frontier with the Soviet Union—not raids by Soviets into Norwegian territory, but the other way around. This stretch of international border is normally a zone of serenity. Although Norway is a member of NATO, it deliberately does not allow military maneuvers in the border zone, and keeps only 150 frontier guards on duty there. Most border-crossing is done by herds of reindeer. But occasionally, exuberant Norwegians want to test their daring. “It’s basically just guys who have had a few beers and want to show who’s toughest,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. “So they swim across the river and come back with a trophy—a sign or a border post.” (In the winter the raiders use snow scooters.) So far the Soviets have not reacted noticeably, other than to inform the Norwegians of the raids during one of the monthly joint meetings of frontier personnel.

Featured Tags

OSLO Border Raids

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has been worrying for some time about raids across its 122-mile Arctic frontier with the Soviet Union—not raids by Soviets into Norwegian territory, but the other way around. This stretch of international border is normally a zone of serenity. Although Norway is a member of NATO, it deliberately does not allow military maneuvers in the border zone, and keeps only 150 frontier guards on duty there. Most border-crossing is done by herds of reindeer. But occasionally, exuberant Norwegians want to test their daring. “It’s basically just guys who have had a few beers and want to show who’s toughest,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. “So they swim across the river and come back with a trophy—a sign or a border post.” (In the winter the raiders use snow scooters.) So far the Soviets have not reacted noticeably, other than to inform the Norwegians of the raids during one of the monthly joint meetings of frontier personnel.