UNITED NATIONS’ PLANS

Evening Star, Issue 24288, 1 September 1942, Page 3

UNITED NATIONS’ PLANS

HELP FOR RUSSIANS IN CAUCASUS! LONG FRONT ENVISAGED It is believed in America that Britain, the United States, and Russia have worked out a strategic plan envisaging tho possible loss of the Soviet’s Caucasus oil resources. Its main concern is to keep Russia in the field l , even if the entire Rostov-Stalingrad-Astrakhan triangle is lost to the Germans, reports A. D. Rothman, Washington correspondent of the ‘ Sydney Moring Herald.’ With the Ukraine, Kuban, and the Caucasus in German hands, Russia’s principal food and oil resources would he gone. Moreover, the Allied supply route via Murmansk is believed to have been practically cut off by the Germans. It is therefore, seen that Britain and America will aim to maintain tho southern supply route via the Persian Gulf and the Middle East intact. Washington observers conclude,- as a consequence, that the contemplated second front will probably be a combined Russian, British, and American front on a great crescent extending from Egypt, through Palestine, Syria, Iraq, the South-eastern Caucasus, Iran, and India’to China. It is understood that Marshal Voroshilov has been training a large army somewhere across the Volga, and that this force will be combined with Marshal Timoshenko’s army, if • the Germans succeed in completely investing the Rostov - Stalingrad - Astrakhan triangle, and will concentrate in the South-eastern Caucasus, -Iran, and Iraq, and that these forces will be joined by British and American reinforcements. The oil of Iran and Iraq will supply the Russian army’s deficiency in oil, while Britain and America will attempt to supply the Russian army’s deficiency—particularly the armament rer qnirements of Voroshilov’s reserves—in food and weapons. The Allies’ Egyptian anchor assumes first-rate importance in this strategic concept. It is believed here that the reopening of the battle in the Western Desert is imminent. It is understood that Field-Marshal Rommel has been heavily reinforced. Estimates are that he obtained perhaps 30,000 fresh troops, chiefly German, across the Mediterranean in July, and about the same number in August, as well as air reinforcements and supplies. It is believed, however, that the IR.A.F.’s continuous and successful harassing of Rommel’s communication lines has seriously delayed his time-table. There is a second vital intent in the United Nations’ eastern strategy, the first being the support of Russia at the South-eastern Caucasian keystone. This is to prevent German access tq the Indian Ocean, and a possible conjunction of the Germans and Japanese in Asia. It is believed in Washington that the idea of an immediate establishment by the Allies of a western European front on a sufficient scale to divert a large German strength from Russia has been virtually abandoned, and that the United Nations’ strategy will now bo concentrated on stopping the Germans in the east. “WINTER IS COMING” FIRST SIGHS IN THE NORTH (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 31. it will be -many weeks before snow and slush bog down the Germans in South Russia; where winter comes late,, but the first slight snowfall is reported in North Sweden, and Helsinki has given out a frost warning. Posters in Rumania proclaim that winter is coming, one stating; “Think of our soldiers who again have to endure the Russian cold.” Rumanian reserve officers are organising a collection of warm clothing, Fand countryfolk have been ordered to produce quotas of sheepskins and rabbitskius. The Hungarian Youth Organisation is helping in a similar drive. German huntsmen and foresters are asked to procure the maximum number of foxskins. A German fur company has been set up in Polands A 8.8. C. foreign language broadcast said Hitler and his unhappy satellites were again committed to another terrible winter of suffering in Russia.