Evening star., 1941-07-20
By MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.
A fairly clear picture of the situa-
ton on the Russian front is be-
ginning to appear.
The Germans seem to have driven
a deep triangular salient into the
main Russian defensive zone. The
apex of this triangle is at Smolensk,
which is in German hands. The
north face of the salient runs from
Smolensk to Vitebsk, the south face
from Smolensk to Orsha. or pos
Sibly to MoZilev. On the north
face, the Germans are attacking
northeastwards, trying to widen the
salient and to envelop the Russian
armies in this region with the aid
of the German troops in the Pskov
sector.
Between VitebSk and Polotsk
northwest of Vitebsk) a fresh Ger
man offensive is developing in the
direction of Newell, with the evident
purpose of widening the German
bridgeheads beyond the Dvina and
breaking down the shoulder of the
main salient, thus aiding in the
development of the Russian armies
of the north-Which may soon come
to occupy the position of the armies
of Flanders in the spring campaign
of 1940 At least that is doubtless
the German intention. Whether
the Russians can thWart it remains
to be seen, but becomes more doubt
full in face of latest developments.
Farther north, the Germans
seem to be advancing both north
and south of Lake Peipus. North
of the lake they have crossed the
Luga River, south of it their ad-
vanced elements are rumored al
ready in Novgorod. though this may
be accepted with some reserve.
Probably they are trying very hard
to thrust advanced armored ele-
ments far enough forward to cut
the Leningrad-M Moscow railway,
thus interfering with the with
drawal of the Russian troops in
the Leningrad sector.
Aim to Destroy Red Army.
Never forget that the German
purpose is to break up, surround
and destroy the Russian armies,
not to take specific ground objec-
tives. They could capture Moscow
itself, Leningrad, Kiev and Odessa,
without achieving victory, or in
deed anything worth all their time
and loss, providing the Russians
still kept their armies in the field
and went on fighting.
1t is the Russian armies of the
Leningrad region which the Ger
mans are now trying to bag and the
capture of the city itself is only in
cidental thereto. If the Russians
have to retire from Leningrad they
will probably try to rest their right
flank on the strong position of
Lakes Ladoga and Omega. connected
by the Stain Canal. The move
ment of German and Finnish troops
around Lake Ladoga is therefore
of considerable Importance and
should be carefully watched.
If the Russian right flank is sue
cessfully enveloped in this region,
while in the south the German
offensive against the north face
of the Smolensk salient is further
developed by the thrust across the
Dvina toward Newell. a considerable
German victory seems in the
making.
These moves seem likely to be
further supported by the operations
of German armored troops, push
ing on from Smolensk and perhaps
toward or beyond Novgorod. These
armored forces would normally
swing inward toward each other
and seek to complete the envelop-
ment of the Russian northern
armies. 1t may, however, be OBJ
served that the German losses, both
of personnel and material-due to
the stubborn Russian resistance and
persistent Russian counter-attacks
have been very severe, and 1t Is
not yet certain whether the ad-
vance elements of armored troops
are in sufficient strength, and can
be sufficiently well supported, to ef-
feet very much. Probably much
will depend on the activities of the
German air force, and on whether
the Russians still have in hand both
armored and air forces with which
to counter the German moves.
Reds Counter Attack.
On the south face of the Smolensk
salient, the Russians appear to be
counter attacking in considerable
strength. There is as yet no GER
tainty that the Germans have
crossed the Dnieper in force any
where along the line from Smolensk
to Orsha, Mogilev and Rogachev;
if they have attempted to repeat
Napoleon's famous flank march on
Smolensk from the south, there is
no hint of it in available dispatches.
This shoulder of the salient ap-
pears to be holding fast, and it is
always possible that If the Rus
slams can make good the Line Of the
| Dnieper on the front Indicated And