Evening star., 1941-10-14
Steele
Continued From First Page

have managed to maintain a con-
tinuous patrol over the highways,
settlements and important sectors
Of the front, says the last report.
Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe re-
mains very active.
Battle Near Climax.
The battle for Moscow must be
nearing its crucial phase. No army
can burn its energy indefinitely at
the pace the Germans have been
consuming theirs for the past IL
days. Nevertheless, this is no time
for excessive optimism.
Soviet communiques make no at
tempt to minimize the extreme and
continuing danger. The Nazi Of
fensive has lost some of its original
impetus, but it has not begged down.
Although the Germans already have
used up great quantities of reserves,
they are still able to fling fresh
cadres into the battle. If Hitler's
usual tactics are followed, we may
expect a final gathering of forces
for climactic effort.
There is little doubt that despite
the magnitude of the German effort
it is behind the timetable set by the
Nazi strategists.
Foreign military observers watch
ing developments from here believe
Hitler had hoped and expected to
sow panic and confusion in the So
Wet rear by the immense impact of
his flank attacks into the salients
west and south of Moscow. Had he
succeeded, the story of France might
have been repeated and the road to
Moscow would be open.
But the Russians are not the
French, nor have they the same
blind faith in fixed defenses. De-
fense-in-depth tactics have enabled
the Russians to cushion the shock
of the German attack and make the
enemy pay dearly for every kilom-
eter gained.
The outcome of the battle prob
ably depends on how much the
Germans still are holding in reserve
and whether the Russians will be
able to bring their superior resources
of manpower into full play with
sufficient speed to neutralize the
German armored strength.
British Arms Arriving.
With British war materials arriv-
ing in Russia in a limited, but steady
stream, President Roosevelts pledge
of prompt delivery of American mu-
nitions for Soviet defense will give
new encouragement to this ha-
rassed but resolute country But the
Russians are realists in the truest
sense. They want all, the materials
from abroad they can get and as
quickly as possible.
They would be especially appre-
ciative of some British diversion in
the west. But unlike the French,
who expected miracles in their hour
of crisis, the Russians know that
they will be obliged to depend pri-
marily on their own efforts in coping
with the immediate situation.
Today newspapers call on the in
dustrial bases of the country for
super Ilullldll CiiCl Sy III bul lilIlS ouG
weapons of war. They demand the
quickest possible conversion of
peacetime industries to wartime
purposes, citing the example of
Odessa where many plants which
once produced consumtion goods are
now manufacturing munitions, so
making prolonged defense possible.
Much depends on the capacity of
the, Russians to hold their industrial
centers, to maintain their output
and to conserve their reserves until
Anglo American assistance reaches
a really important scale.
In the last u days the Russians
have made enormous contributions
to the Anglo-American cause. The
huge dent they have made in Ger
man armament, man power and air
power in that period will take a
long time to repair.
tCopyright. 1941. Chicago Daily News, Inc