The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-16

that in the Ukraine the Germans might soon attempt surprise land- ingS from the sea at Odessa and Nikolaev in a new attempt to cut the Russians west of the Dnieper river. They believed, however, that Russia, because of its command of the black sea, would have a good chance of repelling any such att tempt.
 Military experts said that the success of an unexpected stand along the Dnieper river by the Russian army of the Ukraine de- pended on the success of Marshall Sefnyon Budenny in getting his material across the wide, swift river.
 NaziS May Strike Harder
 Military observers cited the dan ger that the German air force would throw its great striking power fully into the battle of the Ukraine, in an attempt to smash bridges across the river and keep the Russians from getting their tanks and heavy guns to the eastern bank.
 If Dubenny loses his equipment and merely saves his men the whole Ukraine may be lost in a short time," one observer said. @
 But commentators said also that if Budenny succeeded in getting both his men and material across he would have his first good chance of stemming the German drive. Experts attached more importance to the preservatio of Budenny's equipment than the Russian loss of the industrial and agricultural wealth of the territory west of the Dnieper. They said they believed that some Russians already had been cut off in that area but that their loss would not weaken Bu- denny's man power dangerously.
 These experts believed the Ger mans hoped to push on past the Dnieper and strike the Sea of Azov east of the Crimean peninsula.
 If they did so, it was added, they might push their main forces on into the Caucasua oil region, leav- ing the big cities in their path be- sieged, to be mopped up at leisure.
 GERMANY HIT FOR HOURS
 London, Aug. 16.-tUP)-Masses of British bombing and fighting planes raced across the Dover Strait to France in waves for hours today in a sudden, big scale resumption of Royal Air Force offensive op- erations.
 Bad weather had kept Britain's long range bomberS aground during the night, but the offensive against Germany and German occupied ter ritory was resumed soon after dawn.
 Russia took its turn at raiding Berlin during the night. Berlin re- ported that Russian planes had "at- tempted" to raid the city but said that only one plane reached the outskirts" and that gun fire forced it back.
 The Berlin communique said "a small number" of bomberS had tried" to attack northeastern and eastern Germany.
 Radio Berlin went of the air at 1925 last night (5:25 p. m. Fri day EDT). @
 German long range guns on the French coast shellei two small Brit ish ships in the Strait of Dover last night. They opened up when fog lifted and showed the ships. The ships scurried to the English coast and arrived in port apparently ur1- touched, a United Press observer re- ported.
 A few German planes dropped bombs at widely scattered points in eastern and southwestern England and eastern Scotland during the night. Slight damage and @ few casualties werfe reported.
 BRITISH PLANES HET SICILY
 Rome, Aug. 16-(UP)-Britisll planes heavily raided Catania, Sicily during the night killing or wounded many persons and damaging & num- Der of civil dwellings, a high com mand communique said today.
 CThe wording of the Italian colm- munique was most unusual and was taken to mean that the British had blasted the city in force. Usually Italian and German communiqueG minimize the effects of all British aid raids.)
 It was the second straight night raid on Catania. The British planes dropped both explosive and incen- city in the state has not only .