Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-22
u. s. Readies
Supply Route
For Russians
Moscow Talks VIII Fix
Extent Of Help
By PAUL MALLON

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-Mr.
W Churchill, with the aid and
knowledge OF Mr.. Roosevelt, is
opening up a new line OF sup
plies into Russia from the head
Of the Persian Gulf
The rail line north 10 the
Caspian Sea is thin and wobbly
in spots. and all the goods will
have to be reloaded on ships for
transportation across that sea.
But il viii be a fairly safe line
into Russia. relatively free from
both the NaziS and Japs. and it
can be exploited during the
Winter.
Mr. Roosevelt, AT the instance
of Mr.. Churchill, is already
opening a new bomber-lerry
route directly to the Near East,
through Africa, out OF reach of
the NaZiS.
This also can feed bombers
into Russia through the Winter,
although that angle has not been
stressed here.
81
WITH Vladivoslok. only mildly
y menaced 50 far by the JapS,
as an all-Wintcr port directly
across the Pacific, MeSsrs.
Roosevelt and Churchill stand in
fair way 10 implement force
fully their joint promise of aid
TO the Reds.
How it will work out all de-
ponds an the success of negotia-
tionS at the Moscow conference
Of British and United States
Representatives with Stain.
If the Red dictator wants
help, and offers reasonable
terms he can get il mot much
perhaps from the British, who
have little to spare, but from
uS).
THE vague yarns being told
L about Mr.. Roosevelt now eX-
pecting the Reds 10 last not.
only through the Winter but
also for two more years devel-
oped Immediately upon his re-
turn from the Churchill confer
ence.
The White House apparently
did not like the way such fiat
prediction looked in print and
Shushed such overly optimistic
interpretations with denial.
No one will assume 10 relate
what Churchill told Mr.. Roose-
welt about this, bu- the British
opinion has always been more
optimistic than the American on
this subject.
TlIE situation is so dangerous,
L of course, that neither the
German nor the Russian high
command can know exactly how
II will come out, but the avail
able information in the hands Of
the government pictures the
latest changes somewhat as fol-
lows.
General Budenny escape d
from the trap Of the NaziS in
the Ukraine with a substantial
part of his shriveled force-how
much only he knows. One dis
patch indicates ne had 30 di-
visions at the start of the war,
got - pretty well smashed
north of Kiev. reformed the re-
naming 25 and escaped with
more than half from the pocket.
A crafty old cavalry officer,
he has a fair position east of the
Dnieper. but further develop
ments depend on how much OF
his heavy equipment he was
able 10 bring across the river
probably not much). If Blu
denny is gone, one of the three
Red armies is knocked out.
4 MILITARY rumor has
"a reached high places that
the Reds have been marshalinl
all available forces for a last
ditch counter-offensive at the
German center around Smolensk
Budenny's forces were de-
pleted, il is said, because Ger
man drive through the Ukraine
was not expected, and part O
his army was shifted 10 IN,
Moscow front in expectation o
blow there.
These can now he used fol
the desperate Red effort
The Germans expect 10 60
Odessa Leningrad and Kicv II
the immediate future, bu
whether Moscow Will be reached
before Winter is doubtful.
They especially want Lenin
grad. because the Winter frozei
marsh land around there is suit
able for tank operations, ant
the Reds have had much NOR,
experience at that business ~
degrees below zero when ever
airplanc motors have 10 b.
started with n blowtorch).
THE conflict is turning into
war of atlrition, in whlCl
IL. ....I