Snoop-Proof Memorial

Of the 8,500 Russians buried on Norwegian soil, only a few lost their lives in liberating Norway from the Nazis. Most were soldiers and civilians captured by the Germans and taken to north Norway concentration camps, where they died. The Norwegians buried them in 200 graveyards scattered throughout their country. Ever since, like none-too-welcome neighbors once carelessly invited to dinner, Russian officials have been dropping over. Nominally they came to inspect the graves, but they used the occasion to take a good gander at Norway's defenses. The Norwegians have never complained, but in their laconic way they began moving the scattered Russian dead into one of three central graveyards, less handy for snooping.

"Desecration and mockery," protested the Russians. But the Norwegians remained quite calm. No effort, they said last week, would be spared to make the new cemeteries worthy memorials.

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