ACUTE PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1941, Page 5

ACUTE PROBLEMS

FACING GERMAN FORCES IN RUSSIA SOVIET’S SCORCHED EARTH POLICY. REMARKABLY FRANK ENEMY ACCOUNT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 4. Even if the aim is only to glorify the manner in which the German High Command is able to deal with the difficulties arising from the Eastern Front campaign, an article in the Vienna “Tageblatt” reveals in a curiously frank manner the problems of transport and supply to the Nazis’ eastern forces resulting partly from the Russian scorched earth policy. The article, which is dated the end of August from the German headquarters on the Eastern Front, says: “Contrary to all experiences arising from the war in the west, in Norway, and in Libya, the eastern war has revealed the impossibility of supplying our troops with even part of their most urgent daily needs out of the resources found in the conquered territory. “Apart from the fact that the Russians have destroyed absolutely everything, not even the water can be used, and all water has to be sent up to our fighting troops. “The poverty of Russia exceeds all our expectations, and our gigantic army now fighting there must rely on provisions entirely sent from Germany. This is an especially difficult task because of the enormous distances and the very bad roads, while the railway lines have been destroyed. “A further problem is the housing of our troops during the winter, as the Russians have destroyed practically every house, farm and even hut. “At the same time our High Command ip faced with the problem of placing sufficient quantities of petrol at the disposal of the tank units, . the Luftwaffe and the transport services. The consumption is already gigantic, an it increases every day with the deeper penetration into Russia. “The High Command is, therefore, extremely busy with the organisation of supply lines to the front line troops and in finding the best means of protecting them. This latter is a matter of urgency, as the surprise attacks against our supply columns have recently increased and the transport difficulties consequently become daily more serious,”