The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-20


 fengiye in the south still was the most important and provided the greatest threat to the Soviets.
 The main Russian war industries, the big oil pipe line running from the Caucasus to Nihtovka in the DonetS Basin, ard oil fields thein- selves and the trend of the entire war in the Near East this winter may depend on the ability of Bu. denny's army of several million men to withdraw to new defense line and to aid the trapped Russian forces eat of Kiev in breaking out of the Naz Pincer.
 The German advance were viewed with the utmot gravity in London, where military expert were limited to expressing hope that most of the trapped Russians could fight their way out and to pointing out that q big Soviet army still Is in acc ton in the south If 1t can be with drawn and rallied along the Donets line. -tr
 To encourage the Russians to fight on against formidable odds, the BritiGh- American mission to Mog- COW was starting or already had started from London for conSulta- tions on speeding supplies to the Red Army. Lord Beaverhrook, head of the British mission, and his aides were believed to be eE1 route. The American mission headed by w. Averill Hartman was expected to leave ct any time for Moscow.
 Collapse Not Imminent
 Collapse of the Ukraine defenses was not regarded as imminent, but 6 great part of the Russian war an- dustrles in the south had been lost to the Germans or rendered unuse- able and Berlin made 1t clear that the Na.is were aiming not only for such centers as Kharkov and Rostov but for the oil fields of the Cau- casts.
 Achievement of that objective would not only cut or threaten the Britlsh-American supply line to Russia through Iran but would give the Germans Q jumping of place for Q great winter campaign in the Near East, where the main ohjec- tiveS would be to cut British eIn. pire communications at vital points.
 Moscow dispatches gave little in- forlnation on the exact positions in the Ukraine or the progress of fighting, other than to say that severe conflict continued near Kiev. The Russians also admitted e new German drive on the Arctic coast, presumably directed at Murmansk but said that heavy casualties had been inflicted on the Germans.
 Russian relations with Bulgaria were closer to the breaking point after Sofia had charged that Rus- sian parachutists landed in the Dobruja sector for purposes of sab- otage. The Russians previously had charged that Germany was using Bulgaria as Q base for military and naval operations, probably in prep aration for an attack across the Black Sea.
 Japan, Russia, Near Crisis
 Relations between Russia and Japan also seemed to be nearer to @ crisis. Members of the families of Russian diplomats left Tokyo following Japanese protests against allegedly improper mining of 5i- berian waters. This was followed by Q significant outburst in the Na- tionalist press of Japan, charging the government of Prince Fuini- marc Konoye with failure to take a firm stand behind the greater
 The full effect of this national istic outburst probably will depend upon the further success of the German army in Russia, but it ap- peared to be designed to halt the tendency of the Konoye cabinet to drift away from its ties with the Axis and to reach at least c temporary settlement with the United States and Britain in regard to Pacific ocean problems.
 Another diplomatic rupture was threatened between Germany and Argentina as a result of Argentine congressional demands for custer of the Nazi ambassador on charges of organizing storm troopers in South America. Berlin spokesnlen angrily promised that Germany would have something to say in regard to the sudden antiNaI OutburstS in Ar-