World Picture

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1942, Page 2

World Picture

From the viewpoint of the United Nations there is much that gives ground for encouragement in the contemporary picture of the world at war. It is true that glimpses from day to day, in which this or that episode is seen in highlight, may leave misleading impressions but this would be equally true if due appreciation were not given when brighter tones make themselves apparent on the scene. In any case, it is the trend of the whole picture that counts and the trend at the moment has a significance that cannot escape notice. Its arresting feature is that contrary to what has been the case for so long the balance of attack is not overwhelmingly the prerogative of the enemy. In western Europe the initiativfe continues where it has rested for some time — with the Royal Air Force; from the Pacific there is news of attack not only by one side, but by both; in China the situation of a month ago is reversed — the Chinese j are attacking and the Japanese are retreating; and on many sectors of the great Russian front Soviet troops have swung to the offensive. w * V It is this last circumstance that is the most important because there can be no question that the great battle zone stretching from the Arctic circle to the Black Sea is the most vital sector in the world today. As the Germans continued week after week with their offensive, smashing through man-made and natural barriers, the question of a Russian counter - offensive was eagerly canvassed. It was remembered that last year it was not until the tremendous Nazi drive showed signs of lagging that Premier Stalin ordered the Red army to take the initiative. But with the Germans at the very gates of Stalingrad the hour seemed very late for a Russian move this year. Her friends began to doubt if the Soviet had the strepgth remaining to fight more than a delaying action in the'south, while holding large German forces immbbilised further north. « * * However, it has become apparent that the Russian forces are embarked upon operations of some magnitude in the central and northern sectors. Names that were made familiar in last year's fighting are re-entering the news — Orel, Kaluga, Rzhev, Leningrad. . In all these rfegions the Russian attacks are developing against Germans in strongly entrenched positions. Progress is, therefore, not likely to be swift. But the importance of the Soviet moves may--be gauged from the very circumstance that the Germans have so heavrly and strongly fcrtified points in the central and I northern sectors. thus emphasising'j the vital significance they attach to a stable central-northern line. But at the present time it cannot be said that this line is important in itself so much as because of its bearing ; upon the line further south. If the batties now raging in the central sector can influence the position in the south then they will achieve a purpose that will be far-reaching. * * # At the moment it cannot be said that they do. It is true that the German advance in front of Stalingrad appears to be checked but this , is almost certainly due to factors local to the area. Here also, the Russians are counter-attacking. It may simply be that the time which comes to all mechanised armies has arrived and that the Germans are forced to regroup and absorb reinforcements. If this is so then the halt may be just a passing phase. Nevertheless, the exhibition that has already been provided of Russian powers of reeovery is a hopeful augury whatever the immediate future may 'bring. It is a factor of importance, furthermore, that German boasts have once again proved empty. However, it would be falling into the Nazi error to fail to appreciate that the situation on. the approaehes to the Volga and the Caspian is still exceedingly critical. But it may be said that one week of crisis before Stalingrad has passed and to add that with the coming of September, winter in Russia looms ominously near. * ♦ * The Washington communique about the American operation in the Solomons adds a decided touch of brightness to the picture of world war. As far as • it has gone the operation has been a complete success. Over-optimism is officially discounted as unwarranted and indeed the latest evidence of Japanese striking power and determination as shown at Milne Bay in New Guinea is an effective antidote to any such feeling. Nevertheless, now that the Japanese have been driven from the southern Solomons and American troops are in possession of an airfteld, besides numerous seapl'ane bases in the islands, it must be assumed that the job of shifting thern will be a heavy task for the enemy. it is true that this applies also at Milne Bay and Buna, but it must be thought that the United States command did not lightly embark upon the Solomons operation. The whole attack has shown careful preparation and forethought and all the evidence points to it as being but one step in a well considered plan. In the meantime if the free world does no more than Washington asks, it can, with every justification, "rejoice" at the result of the first attempt to break Japan's hold upon j its conquests and pay due tribute to the men who brought it about. * * * Without more light than is thrown upon the particular sector at the prcscnt time it is somewhat difficult

to see clearly the implications of events in the China sector of the world war picture. Superficially the Chinese appear to have improved I their position to an amazing extent in the past week. Yet there is at i the same time something unrea] 'about the rapid Japanese _withjdrawal. The true position is not made any clearer by Chungking I communiques which assert in one breath that the Japanese forces from China are being concentrated in Manehuria for a treacherous blow against the Soviet, and in the next breath that Japanese resistance in east China has collapsed. Nevertheless, even though the Japanese are effectively scorching the earth as they retreat, it is difficuit to see why they would willingly leave to others valuable air bases from which Japan itself could be attacked. Particularly is this odd since evidence grows that American air strength in China is building to coneiderable proportions. With the Royal Air Force offensive against Germany given its due prominence, at the close of the critical month of August the people of the United Nations see the world picture still a sombre spectacle but not without rays promising brighter things ahead.