A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 259, 31 July 1942, Page 4

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Crisis In Russia DANGERS ON BOTH SIDES

The situation in Russia becomes increasingly grave, as the violence of the German land anil air offensive spreads further cast au’d south of the Don River and North Caucasus areas. In spite of most ■ valiant and sacrificial efforts, the outnumbered forces of Marshal: Timoshenko are being forced to retreat before the massed 1 armour and. extravagant use of manpower of Marshal von Boek. ,

Many observers had hoped that when, the line of the Don was reached the. Russian commander would fin'd himself able to make, a strong stand against the advancing tide, but it would appear that the impetus of the German drive is still too strong. The result is that Russia now faces an extremely grave situation. ■ ■ Strategic Position

Field-Marshal von Bock's men have now little distance to cover in order to cut the last links between the armies of the Caucasus and the Soviet forces round Moscow, and further north. If the Germans reach the Volga and stop the heavy passage of supplies thereon, not only will one of the main Allied supply lines to central Russia be strangled, but the main Russian' forces in the centre and north will be cut off from their chief supplies of oil. At the same time the armies of the Caucasus will be thrown on their » own resources for munitions, except for such amounts as the Allies can manage to pass through via the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.

The morale of the Russian people under the strain of the past few weeks has been magnificent. Observers say that there is no talk of defeat, though sorrow at the loss of so much valuable territory is manifest.. The events of the past weeks have only, observers state, served to renew the determination to win through to victory. There is a danger, however, that wlieu Marshal Timoshenko does succeed in stemming the German advance., the Russian armies will ibe so weakened that anything more than a purely defensive role will be impossible for them for a considerable time. Timoshenko’s Task

When Marshal Timoshenko took command in the Ukraine after Marshal Budenny’s reverses last autumn; he faced a position at least as serious as, if not more serious than, the present. Then, Marshal Budenny, in his retreat, had lost many men as prisoners, and some of the armies were entirely disorganized. In the present retreat, as pointed out by the London commentator Major Lewis Hastings, there has been no such loss of men. The retreat, though hasty, has never beqpme a rout, and the Soviet forces, though suffering severe casualties in wounded and dead —not so severe, however, as those of the Germans—have remained unbroken. Skilful withdrawals have avoided the vast encircling attempts of the German pincers. ' This, perhaps, is the brightest ray of the whole campaign, for the Germans, apart from the capture of valuable territory, must also break the Rus-’ Sian armies if they are to gain total success, the only thing that will be of real use to them and give them hope of. victory. While the Russian armies, even if diminished in numbers and strength, remain in being,. Germany cannot turn her main strength elsewhere with safety; and that she needs to do as the strength of Great Britain, the Empire and the United States masses against her.

Tpe situation, then, is grave but not irretrievable. Germany is striving might and main regardless of cost to trap the Russians, and in .the meantime looks' fearfully over her shoulder, all the while dreading the moment when the second front,, day ; by day coming nearer and possibly close at hand, will force her to slacken her grip iu the east. If that comes before she has sufficiently weakened the Soviet offensive strength, she knows Nemesis will ’be very near, an inevitable Nemesis which she, however, hopes she can escape if she can sufficiently disorganize Russia now.