Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1941. THE DEFENCE OF RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1941. THE DEFENCE OF RUSSIA.

yyillLlt) the Germans have gained substantial successes on parts of the long Eastern battlefront, grounds appear also for the increasing concern battles behind the advanced German mechanised columns are said to be causing to the German High Command. On what scale Russian forces in the frontier zones have been or are being enveloped and cut off is not. shown clearly at time of writing, but the accompanying possibility at all events is indicated that some, of the Gorman armoured columns which have thrust deeply into Russian territory may find themselves isolated and helpless, with their communications severed.

• Giving in a national broadcast what may be regarded as an authoritative and comprehensive account of the position reached in the Russo-German war, M. Stalin has admitted frankly the loss of a considerable amount of territory in the Baltic Provinces, White Russia and the Western Ukraine. At the same time, however, he claimed that in achieving that measure of success the German Army has lost some of its best divisions and some of the best units of its Air Borce, and that in the facts there is proof that the ’military forces of Nazi Germany are no more invincible than was the German Army in the last war, or the Grand Army of Napoleon in its earlier day.

Nothing that has yet happened need obviously be taken as invalidating the confidence expressed by the head of the Russian State. According to an American correspondent in Ankara, whose dispatch was cabled yesterday, the Soviet war plan is based on the idea of keeping the Red Army intact and extending the Avar into the winter, and in pursuance of that plan Stalin is prepared, if necessary, “to give up Leningrad, Minsk, .Kiev and even Moscow.” Brom a war plan of this nature, taking account of current and prospective developments in Western Europe and elsewhere. liiissia has much to hope.

A great deal evidently must depend on the proportion of their forces the Russians have used ami are using in the defence of their frontier zones. If the Russian main forces are able to retire substantially intact, the Germans, making the fullest possible use of their air and mechanised forces, will be faced by a task of increasing difficulty as they penetrate deeper into Soviet, territory. It has been suggested that the Russians may have prejudiced their prospects by throwing their main forces rashly and with undue confidence into the defence of their frontier zones, Ind' whether they have actually done so has yet to appear.

'Within reason, Russia has everything to gain, and Germany everything to lose, from the lengthening out of the conflict. That German blitzkrieg tactics can prevail to a point of decision over Russian armies resolutely making the most of their opportunities certainly has .yet to be demonstrated.

Full emphasis lias been laid in recent reports on the admittedly heavy strain that is being imposed on the Russian armies and air force, but the positions of the Germans is far from being altogether happy. This appears most clearly in the extent to which they are at present allowing the air war in Western'Europe to go by default. For several weeks, the Royal Air Force has been attacking Germany and German-occupied territories in powerful and heavily-damaging night attacks and in aggressive daylight sweeps. In contrast, all recent German air raids on Britain have been on a relatively minor scale and fighter opposition to the R.A.F. daylight attacks has dwindled remarkably and at times has not been attempted at all.

' No doubt this state of affairs may change suddenly. It may be assumed with full confidence, however, that any revival of enemy air activity in the west will be powerfully met and it seems likely that such a revival is hardly possible without altering very materially the balance of forces and the aspect of affairs generally on the Eastern front.