Imperial Valley press., 1941-09-24
Today S
War Moves
By Louis T. keemle
of the United Press
War Desk

If, as Berlin and Moscow dis
patches indicate. Marshal Budenny
has extricated the large part of his
army from the Kiev trap and IS
still fighting furiously, it probably
means that the expected new Ger
man drive eastward will be consid
erably slowed up.
Two days ago the outlook seemed
dark for the Russians. PessiniSts
enVisaged annihilation of Budenny's
army and a swift blitz drive to
Kharkov and the Donets industrial
basin.
It is obvious now that Budenny'o
army, while hard hit, has held to-
gether and still is a formidable
fighting force. The Germans may
beat him back and probably will,
but all developments of the war to
date indicate that he will retreat
slowly and in good order, fighting
a rear guard action and contesting
every mile of ground, at the same
time removing or destroying any
thing of military value to the Ger
mans.
DELIBERATE MOVE?
At the time of the fall of KieV.
it was suggested that Budenny de-
liberately abandoned the city, leaV-
ing only a small rear guard to de-
lay the Germans while he withdrew
his main body. That surmise ap-
pears to have been borne out.
of
retreat drawing the enemy ever
deeper into the interior and length
ening his communications lines,
which are harraSsed from the rear
by guerilla units. AT the same time
the scorched earth policy insures
that the enemy cannot live off the
country and must haul up every
thing he needs.
The Germans already are having
transportation difficulties. The in
formation comes not only from
Moscow but is confirmed by Berlin
The difficult dirt roads, hard to
traverse at the best, are deep IN
mud. The weather will be an in
creasing handicap as autumn passes
into winter.
NAZIS USING HORSES
According to Russian sources, the
Germans have been compelled to
use horses for artillery and supply
services, which slows them up. The
gasoline supply for the mechanized
German forces Is especially affect
ed. The Germans are bringing up
what they can by alrplane and
dropping it by parachute, but that
is an uncertain and almost hap
hazard method.
The Soviet artillery and Russians
behind the German lines also are
doing considerable damage to roads
and bridges Berlin propaganda
dispatches described how Russian
artillery is blowing up bridges along
the length of the Dniepcr, Includ-
ing German pontoon bridges Whlcn
have to be constantly repaired.
Supply trucks, according to a Ber-
lin dispatch, sometimes have to line
up for hours or even days to cross
bridges. The dispatches stress the
difficulties of mud, rain and 1rosC.
Such German admissions neeo
not be taken at their full lace
value. or as any indication that
the German service OF supply Is III
any danger of begging down. Illey
can and have been used as effective
advance alibis to explain to the
German public any slowing down.
WINTER MINIMIZED
Too much reliance also must not
be placed on General Winter as
the savior of the Russians. Am
bassador Maisky pointed out IN
London Tuesday that modern tecn-
nioue has reduced the adverse ell
feet of winter and, as he dryly put
it. perhaps by now General VIM
ter has been reduced to Colonel
Furthermore General Winter
would rate not much more than a
corporal or buck private IN the
southern Ukraine, which may be
the main theater of action II Rus
sian resistance is not crushed there
soon.
All of which is not to scott at the
part winter will play in the cam
paign. 1t undoubtedly will slow up
the German effort, especially IN
the north. The Firms and Russians
fought through the deep snow un-
der terrible conditions IN their prev
ious war. 1t was difficult even for
them and they are Injured to II.
The Germans are not.
There is no just comparison, how
ever, with the tate OF Napoleon S
grand army. 1t struggled along on
foot and horse, dragging the artll-
lery painfully across the steppes.
Hitler's army moves on wings ana
by machine.