Evening star., 1941-08-10
Week Seen as One of Favorable Indications
Without Real Victory for Nozis in Russia
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
EVT0T


ELIOT.
Sitting the German and Russian
communicates, it appears probable
that the Germans are attempting,
as previously suggested, to cut of
and envelop the Russian forces on
the extreme left of the Russian line,
that Is, those forces which were up
to now considered as defending the
front along the River Dniester.
The Germans report having
reached Uman, at the end of
small branch railway line, about
half way between Kiev and Odessa.
Reports of operations developing
southeast of Uman" are significant,
for further German advance of so
miles in that direction would bring
them to the railway junction of
Adobash. Here they could cut both
of the remaining railway lines from
the interior of Russia to Odessa
and the Dneister front.
If the Germans succeed in estab-
fishing themselves firmly in the vi
cinity of AdobaSh, where these two
railway lines meet and cross, they
will have cut of all of the Russian
troops still remaining on the Dnies-
ter and in the vicinity of Odessa.
Could Still Be Supplied.
Odessa could, however, still be
supplied by road from Nikolaiev or
by sea. 1t is obvious that the situa-
ton in this area is critical for the
Russians, and the German claims of
great successes may we'll be true, in
whole or in part.
The Incorporate language of
these claims-to have destroyed"
the 9Th and 18th Russian Armies
and part of the 18th Army-seems
likely to overshoot the mark. 1t may
be anticipatory of the effect for
which he Germans hope in cutting
the rail communications referred to.
The main German advance ap-
pears to have been accomplished by
troops coming from the general di-
rection of Zhitomir and Berdichev.
There is no report of any advance
by the German-Rumanian forces on
the Dniester front itself, and these
forces appear to have had holding
mission, keeping the Russians in
place while the main effort effected
break-through and development.
The actual degree of German sue
cess seems likely to depend on the
extent to which Marshal Budenny
was taken in by these tactics, which
will be indicated by the extent of
his Withdrawals from the Dniester
front. If he has gotten great part
of his troops away while there was
time, he may even now be falling
back rapidly on the Dnieper or he
may have time to consolidate a de-
fensive position along the lower Bug,
and the high ground between the
Bug and the Dnieper. The line of
the upper Bug has already been
turned by the German advance to
Uman.
German Failures Hinted.
The announcement that the Ger
man commander in this area is Field
Marshal Gerd Won Rundstedt is in
teresting. Won Rundstedt is one of
the most accomplished of German
officers He commanded the south
ern group of armies in the Polish
| campaign and then, as now, his task
was to bite off" surround and de-
stroy the enemv left by holding
attack. penetration and an en-
velopment. There have been ru-
mors. however. that Won Rundstedt
is not very closely in sympathy with
high Nazi party officials. which raises
the suggestion that he may have
been called upon after less skillful
generals had failed
Two other sectors of the front
merit some special attention at the
moment The Germans claim a
local success of some importance in
the vicinity of Roslavl, southeast
of Smolsnk. This is significant, II
| true, because Roslavl lies on the
main railway and highway from
Bryansk to Smolesnk, about half
way between the two cities.
This railway and highway ap-
pear to have been the axial lines of
the Russian counter-attacks on the
southern face of the Smolensk SAIL
ent. A German advance to Roslavl
would. therefore. suggest that these
counter attacks have at last given
out and that the Germans are wild
ening the salient in this direction,
possibly with view to ultimate CO.
operation with their forces in the
Kiev area farther South. AS for
Kiev itself, the Germans appear
to be no nearer to the city than
they were a week ago.
Sailors Fight on Land.
In the north, however, the Ger
mans seem to be making desperate
efforts to advance in Estonia, in the
direction of Leningrad The Rus
sian announcement that sailors of