Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1941. THE RUSSO=GERMAN CONFLICT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1941. THE RUSSO=GERMAN CONFLICT.

AT time of writing no clear light is cast upon, the leading trend of events in the tremendous conflict that has now been raging for upwards of a week on the front extending from Finland to Bessarabia. It is encouraging, as far as it goes, however, that the Germans appear to be exaggerating extravagantly the measure of their preliminary success. It is one of the familiar facts of the war that the Nazis lie most boldly when things are going badly with ihem, or at all events not as well as they had hoped.

Claims made in a German special communique that, huge losses in aircraft, tanks, guns and men have been inflicted on the Russians at light cost to the invading armies are contradicted flatly by the Soviet High Command and described as boastful humbug. According to the Russians, losses on both sides have been heavy, but with-the ratio turned considerably against the Germans. It is a matter of awaiting the outcome, but it may be noted meantime that the Nazis undoubtedly are lying freely at present on the subject of relative air losses in Western Europe and elsewhere, as they have throughout the war period in regard to relative naval and mercantile shipping losses and other vital details.

It is clear that the Germans, in their attack on Russia, are relying largely, as they did in their earlier attacks on Boland and France, on deep thrusts by armoured divisions, moving freely ahead of immediate infantry support. Reports from both sides show that these tactics have to an extent served their purpose. This appears most conspicuously at the moment in the enemy drive into the Minsk area. The Germans claim that, they have thrust beyond Minsk and reached the main road running from that town to Moscow, while the Russians state that, they are stoutly opposing the enemy infantry divisions 100 miles west, of Minsk. The Germans report that they have surrounded and are closing in on two Russian armies. According to the Russians, the advanced enemy mechanised units are cut off from their bases and from infantry support and are in an extremly difficult position. It should not be long before the question thus raised is settled decisively.

With this important issue open, it is not, at a long view, a matter for concern that the Russians admittedly have lost, a good deal of ground, most of it territory occupied by them since the outbreak of the present. European war. They appear to be holding firmly the areas they wrested, from Finland in the war of .1939, and in Bessarabia they are defending the line of the River Pruth, but across Europe between these areas they have been driven out of most of their lately-acquired territory. Further retirements, even of considerable extent, would not of necessity prejudice the ultimate prospects of the Soviet forces. In view of the poor standard and condition of Hie national transport system and military communications, the strategy of retreat, offers, within reason, definite advantages to the Russians and a means of adding to the difl’iciilties of the invading enemy.