The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1942. THE GERMAN ADVANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1942. THE GERMAN ADVANCE

rs of every day furnish sombre evidence that the German offensive in Kussi;i, long cxpcctcd hut hy some decried in advance, is being in,lint,lined with ;i pressure that so far has proved irresistible, arid ii siir us no sign of slackening. The recurrence of such phrases as "seemingly inexhaustible reserves" and the admissions that the Russians, despite their most stubborn resistance, have been forced to give up position after position, indicates that the long period of preparation w.is fully used by the Germans to make available all the men and the ma. 'lines they judged would be necessary, and that their judgment w.is mmuhl. An offensive of the magnitude and speed of that now in j>M>gre.,ri involves, before all else, organisation on a scale and of an 1111.11 Ity difficult, to imagine, and we are compelled to admit that the (/erm.in organising ability is now being exhibited to perfection. The Kiissinns are forcing them to pay a heavy price for every advance but v l' ;iv u ilncl push on. How much farther can they go? How much more punishment will the Soviet forces be able to endure, and still remain capable of making a counter-stroke?

The Soviet leaders take a long view. If they did not, they would ■ V "V" of the richest and most populous of Russian unto v fnmlv under German control, have thought of coming to terms vyi h their enemy. There is not the slightest sign that they have or '''VY' 1 ,iny such intention. They are credited with having, long ' ] f ' vvjr - r'f iherately studied the possibility that the Germans eve mn n r° T lnto Soviet territory as they have done, and t] , '-, c ' ply ' rh °y are ' sal(1 to have prepared, as far as was p issifi e, for the contingency of a German advance reaching the Volea According to an authoritative summary issued by the British Ministry " War are. more than one-third of Russia's total industrial cap. < It.v is beyond tho Volga, and about 35 per cent of the armament production, excluding the additions caused by the erection cf new l.u toi ies and the removal of others from the west. These are bevond the pi act ical range of a German advance, presuming that the Soviet armies remain, :n the military phrase, "intact." the maintenance of the resolute spirit of the Russian leaders, th termination never to surrender or compromise, the existence of these resources argues that Russia will never be beaten as France was thil Th V T Shr ' ul " to derive much comfort th cvr f l"Pstion for the United Nations is whether the Germans in this years campaign can lock their grip on the huge and productive re«r!;V r .h® alrcad y occupied, and then organise and exploit their thn lim f? r own benefit, it is idle to hope that, if they are given the. time they cannot do so. Once it was said that they would find it impossible to "hold down" Europe and go on fighting Russia. They th f l roVe Was not im P° ssihle - The United Nations have pointed to their own vast potential resources; they have made great nroeress ind f ver n J g and transrorm [ ng those resources for war purposes. Soon, and very soon, must come the time for those resources to be used on a scale and with the determination and skill which the Germans' have the .iimculty o V Mhe C tS" Bn ' The '° nger delay ' ,he Breater wl " be