Evening star., 1942-08-24
Nuzis Gamble in West
To Win in Russia
Military Commentator Sees
Germon Determination to Win
Over Soviet Unchanged
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.

By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.
The Germans IN their Russian CAM
paign appear now to have settled on
two objectives-a major objective, Stall
ingrad, and a minor objective, Novoros-
sisk. Russian reports state that So
fresh divisions have been thrown into
the great battle In the bend Of the Don
in q mighty effort to hammer through
to Stalingrad. II even half this number
of new divisions are really engaged, the
size Of the remaining German strategi-
cal reserve may now be as low as 80 di-
visions, which will account for the ex-
treme nervousness of the Berlin high
command over the Dieppe raid, to which
their propaganda reaction was quicker
than to any event for many months
past, and in its confusion held rather
hint Of panic.
Reduction Of German strength in
Central and Western Europe is also sug-
gested by the comparatively small num-
ber of German fighter planes which were
available to defend Dieppe; German
losses Of certainly not more than 180
planes Of all types, mostly fighters, were
50 crippling that the Raj and Amer
lean air attacks on the following day
encountered practically no air opposition
at all.
All this suggests very strongly that,
while the conditions Of two-front war
are proving extremely embarrassing to
the Germans, they are taking chances
in the west in order to pursue relent-
lessly their Russian objectives. For such
progress as they are making in Russia
and they are making some-they are
paying q heavy price. In the bend of
the Don they seem to have reached the
river at some points and few detach-
ments have fought their way over to
the eastern bank. However, there is no
indication that any Of these have es-
tablished q secure bridgehead.
In the defense OF river line the de-
tenders can hardly ever prevent a de-
termined enemy from getting a few men
the same principle as trying to hold =
solid front line in q trench system-a
brittle, inflexible and almost always un-
successful method OF defense. Instead,
reliance must be placed on the counter
attack units for dealing with enemy
forces which have managed to cross
the ideal plan being one which will in
- -
fore they can dig in and before they can
be heavily reinforced. So far the Rus
slams seem to have been able to deal
with the German crossings in this
fashion, and elsewhere on this front
the Russians themselves are still fight
ing on the west bank Of the river.
Southwest Of Stalingrad, however, in
the Kotelnikovski sector, the most serious
threat to Stalingrad appears to be de-
veloping.. Here the Germans already are
east OF the Don, having crossed lower
down at Tsimlyansk. While the Rus
slams are still holding fast to their we'll
prepared positions-the situation has not
materially changed for more than two
weeks-the Germans are keeping up the
pressure and making some gains.
A glance ut the map will show, In this
connection, the supreme strategical i'm
portanoe Of tho crossings OF the upper
Don In the vicinity Of Voronezh, empha-
sized In these articles at the beginning
| Of the German offensive. II the Ger
mans held these crossings now they could
use their reserves not only to add to the
shambles In the bend Of the Don but to
cross over and strike straight down upon
Stalingrad from the northwest. II a
fresh German army were to approach
Stalingrad from this direction, the re-
suit would be almost foregone conclu-
sion.
But Marshal Timoshenko did not fall
to foresee this possibility, and in holding
the Voronezh crossings he has compelled
advantage both from the viewpoint OF
strategy and that OF logistics. Further
more, the possibility Of . major Russian
counterattack In the Voronezh area il
not yet ruled out by any means. The
Russians now are probably superior to
the Germans in the strength Of their
main reserve. as yet uncommitted. This
is not a certainty, but 1t is strong prob
ability.
Weighing the situation as whole
however, 1t is impossible to deny its
gravity. The Germans are pressing on
with great determination and with an
apparent resolve to get into Stalingrand
cost what 1t may either in lives and
material expended or In risk elsewhere
While 1t is difficult to agree with re-
ports from some Russian sources that
the next "a hours may tell the story
certainly 1t would seem that either the
Germans will make very considerable
advances In the next few days, as well
they may, or there will have to be a
breathing spell which may be the op-
portunity for Russian counterattack
AS to Novorossisk, the Germans have
not for a moment abandoned their
steady push toward that port. They
want it for a supply base to be used
by small vessels proceeding along the
coast under protection of German air.
craft and motor boats, supplying their
army in the North Caucasus as they
are now supplying Rommels army in
Libya. Such a supply route would be
OF immense advantage to the Germans
particularly to the German Army in the
Kotelnikovski sector, whose lines OF
communication are long, difficult and