SOUTHERN HARVEST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1941, Page 5

SOUTHERN HARVEST

GATHERED BY RUSSIANS REPORTED GERMAN ADMISSION. SOVIET COUNTER-OFFENSIVE PREPARATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) . RUGBY, August 2. Though there is little news at the time of writing of changes on the Russian front, it is pointed out in competent circles in London that the initiative still rests with the Germans. The Russian counter-attacks, though some have been extremely successful, are local defensive measures, and there is no suggestion of a counter-offensive. The main object of such attacks is to stop the German advance, because that must be accomplished before the Russians themselves could successfully undertake a counter-offensive. No doubt a certain amount of time —in fact, some weeks —would be needed for such preparations by the Russian forces, but it is thought probable that a Russian effort might be timed to take place before the Germans can organise their great onslaught. Reports here suggest that the Russian hold-up of the Germans in the south has enabled the Ukrainian wheat harvest to be brought in successfully, and German military experts are stated to have admitted: “The Ukrainian

harvest will have to be abandoned till next year.” At the same time neutral reports speak of appalling German casualties, with hospitals crowded and loaded trains arriving in German towns in a steady procession filled with wounded soldiers. High fees are being offered to Swedish doctors to cross into Germany for a few months, and even weeks, to help deal with the casualties.