Evening star., 1941-10-09
British Concerned
By Nazi Chance Of
Success in Drive
No Real Hope Is Seen Of
Eosine Pressure on Reds
BY Opening West Front

~ the Associated Press.
LONDON, Oct. 9.-Germany's
mighty new drive toward the heart
of Russia-imperiling the armies
that guard Moscow-was viewed
today with mounting concern by the
British, who saw no real hope of
easing the pressure on their Soviet
Allies BY reopening a western land
front.
With supply as the chief means of
aid, British and United States mis-
sions to Moscow returned to Eng
land loaded with data on Russia S
needs and pledged to deliver the
goods.
Newspaper military commentators
took the view that the next few
weeks would decide the fate of
Russia's main armies, now locked
IN one of the mightiest battles of
history.
Authoritative sources declared the
twin drives Adolf Hitler launched
northwest and southwest of Moscow
In a race with winter had created
pockets in which vast Russian forces
might be trapped.
Resistance Declared Stiff.
British sources heard that the
Germans were hurting every land
and air weapon in their military
arsenal against the Red Army stand
on the central front. The belief
was expressed, however, that the
Russians had rushed up equipment
even down to flamethrowers that
was almost as formidable.
These sources said the German
push farther south. from Poltava
toward Kharkov, was meeting ex-
tremely stiff resistance. There was
no word of further Nazi advances
down the Perekop peninsula into the
Crimea. nor or further Axis gains in
the siege of Leningrad or Odessa.
The battle before Moscow ragged
with some of the fiercest fighting of
this or any other war There is
every reason to believe the Russian
morale has been stiffened by Hitlers
fresh assault, these London sources
said.
Chance of Encirclement.
The most dangerous German
thrusts were said to be those from
the region Of wanna, l25 miles west
of Moscow, and in the vicinity of
Orel, east of Bryansk.
I'm both cases there is strong
possibility that large Russian forces
said.
These authorities granted there
was some chance the Russians might
achieve encirclement of their own,
but said the advantage in such cir
cumstances is with the attackers
1t is the attacker who encircles."
They added they were unable to
recall any situation in history where
comparable defense forces we've able
to reverse that military rule.
Britain Warned of Dangers.
The British were warned of dang
ers to Soviet Russia, and Britain,
too, in the mighty German offensive
along the Russian battlefront.
But observers failed to see any
signs that Britain would take the
advice of the Russian Navy's organ,
Red Fleet, and launch an attack
on the European coast which, it
said, now was only thinly guarded.
London newspapers ranked the
danger to Russia as greater now
than at any other time of the 1512-
week-old German onslaught in the
east and told the public bad news
was likely.
The knife is getting near the
artery in Russia" said the Daily
Express. published by Minister of
Supply Lord Beaverbrook.
Tanks, guns and planes must 60
out from Britain now, and at any
cost, to Russia the Daily Express
added. America, too, you are in
this!'
The News Chronicle alone, among
the chief London newspapers, raised
the question of British landing on
the continent.
IF by any action in the air, on
sea, or on land-even at great risk
we can neIp IelleNc Tile lcdIlul pres
sure in the east" it said, I'VE should
take that action.
I'VE should review the whole sit
uation once again lest in some
quarter there is the possibility of
extra effort that has been over
looked. We shall never again have
a similar opportunity.
British who noted Russian press
comment that the western Euro
,pean front was ripe for British
action npinted to Prime Minister
ChurchiH's war review of Septem-
Der 80. He said then q British In
vasion had been considered but 1t
was believed impracticable.
British said Britain would not
be able to keep invasion plans
secret any more than the Germans
In 1910 were able to hide their prep
arations-that the Germans soon
would spot concentrations of ship
ping and send bombers over to blast
them.
This prospect of heavy losses to
the Allied merchant fleet, which
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