Evening star., 1941-11-09
War Prospects

ne MOSCOW sector OF the Russo
German battlefront has again come
to the fore with Russian claims of
large-Scale movement northwest of
the city on a broad front. London
inferS that this is not merely a tao
tical counterattack, but a sustained
strategic offensive intended to re-
open communications between Mos
cow and besieged Leningrad.
If this inference be correct. it is
OF the utmost Importance. The Ger
mans have certainly withdrawn
much of their air strength from the
Moscow area, presumably for their
intensive aerial attacks on the Rus
sian positions in the Crimea and the
northern Caucasus. The Russians
claim that this has enabled them to
attain local air parity about Moscow,
which would be almost a prerequisite
for successful through in the
northWeStWard drive. German COM
muniques admit that the advance
on Moscow has been halted, the ex-
planation being excessively bad
weather which has turned the coun-
tryside into a veritable sea of mud.
This matter of weather is high
ly important consideration. During
early November, Central Russia
usually experiences a mild interlude
between the first sharp frosts and
the settling down of sustained winter
cold. In some respects this is akin
to our Indian summer" but there Is
ordinarily much more rain, sleet and
wet snow. 1t was such weather, rath-
er than extreme cold, which begged
down Napoleon's army in its catas-
trophic retreat from Moscow.
However, General Mud is no re-
specter of armies, and If conditions
are as bad as the Germans depict
them. the Russians should be equally
handicapped in any general offen-
sive launched at this moment. The
Germans may be using the weather
as a false alibi to conceal reverses.
There is also the possibility that the
Russian offensive may have political
considerations. Last week was the
twenty-fourth anniversary of the
Bolshevik revolution, an ideal mo-
ment to bolster the morale of the
Russian people. Joseph Stain made
resounding speeches asserting that
Germany is bleeding to death and
promising Teutonic collapse within
a relatively short time. Even local
victories would be an excellent fol-
low-up to his encouraging words. In
cidentally, the propaganda mills on
both sides grind busily Stalin's claim
Of 4,500,000 German casualties was
answered by Berlin's claim of nearly
100000 Russian losses. Both figures
appear fantastic.
However, an interesting admission
from the German side indicates that
all Is not rosy in the Third Reich No
less a person than DR.. Paul Josef
Goebbels, master mind of Hitler's
propaganda machine, writes an
article on the lugubrious topic of
what will happen to the German
people If Germany loses the war. He
predicts nothing less than the de-
struction of German nationhood and
generally hopeless future. OF
course, that is note which German
propaganda has discreetly sounded
from time to time In order to frighten
the people into supporting the Hitler
regime, come what may. But pre-
sumably 1t would not have been
used at this rather melancholy mo-
ment unless its necessity had become
apparent.
In sharp contrast are Winston
Churchills offhand remarks at New
castle in Northern England, assuring
his hearers that "the darkest and
most perilous period Is past" even
though a long struggle requiring
"cruel sacrifices" still lies ahead
Britain's war Prime Minister is nc
pollyanna optimist, so his words OF
cheer shold be regarded as of gen.
uine significance.
The entire war situation seems to be
in transition period, with diplo-
matte developments fully as import
ant as military operations. Succeed
Ing weeks should throw much light
on what impends.