Evening star., 1941-11-16
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
EVUnT

ELIOl.
1t would be premature to assign
major Importance to the reports
of Russian counterof1ensives on the
north and central front. Counter
attacks of local nature, with linn
tied objectives, were to be expected
to follow the cessation OF the great
German assaults, and it is quite
likely that the purpose of these
attacks is to clear vital lines of
communication and re-establish di-
rect contact between Leningrad and
Moscow. and between Moscow and
Rostov.
1t may be doubted whether the
Russians have sufi1cient material
power available now-particularly in
tanks and guns-to really pass to
the offensive and throw back or de-
stroy any large part OF the German
armies. 1t Is possible their superior
acclimatization may enable them to
achieve greater mobility and far
reaching results may be attained
but there is nothing so far to indi-
cate that this will be the case.
Yet the Russians have every rea-
son to feel satisfied with the results
they have SO far obtained, and if
their inter communicating railways
can be reopened, there can be no
doubt that the army groups Of Rit-
ter Won Leeb in the north and of
Fedor Won Book in the center have
suffered a net defeat of notable
proportions.
The true measure Of the Russian
success is to be gained by compar-
ing the situation as 1t exists today
with the situation as pictured to
the German people and the world
py Adolf Hitler in person as Octo-
ber opened, six weeks ago. He de-
scribed the Russian war as over
Russian resistance as broken, the
Red Army shattered and never te
rise again. Today Leningrad, Mos
COW and Rostov still hold out. as de
Kerch and Sevasotpol; Russian
troops are locally on the offensive
in several sectors: German attack.
are at an absolute standstill saw
in the Crimea, where they are gain.
ing little, and Russian airplane!
are actually raiding Eastern Ger.
many.
Hitler Can't Endure Frustration.
This is a state of affairs which
such a man as Hitler cannot calml!
endure. Most psychologists seen
10 agree that he is unable to endure
Illustration. Yet what can he do
He may fling his armies into an
other series of assaults on Lenln
grad or Moscow or both; weathe
conditions being what they are
this is likely to result in enormou
additional losses for very small gain
if any. He may turn to the Ker
chenski Straits and mass his force
there to drive into the Caucasus.
There are some indications tha
this may be at least part of hi
immediate program; if SO. the cap
ture or naturalization of Sevastopo
must. as previously pointed out il
these articles, be likewise accom-
plished, for the Kerchenski Strait!
are not likely to be forced while
the Russian Black Sea fleet retain!
full freedom of action along the
Crimean coast. The participation
of the fleet in operations already
undertaken in this vicinity is sale
by the Russians to have been de.
clsive.
Or frustrated Hitler may decide
on an entirely new front and gather
his powers for an assault on Tur.
key, preceded. as always, by an at.
tempt to gain his way by threats
He might accompany such a move
by an advance from Libya agains
Egypt, powerfully supported by ali
forces-which represent the type o
reinforcement which can be mos
readily sent to Libya, with the maxi
mum assurance of getting there
But neither Turkey nor Egypt offer
really attractive objective; tn,
Turks would probably fight, en-
couraged by the Russian successes
and the chances of a successful in.
vasion of Egypt are not bright
especially since the British Navy
has become more active in the Medi.
terranean.
Yet any of these German moves
in the east. or two or more of them