The Nome nugget., 1942-06-03
THE WORLD TODAY

By DeWTTT MACKENZIE (Wide World AP Analyst) Herr Hitler's spring offensive" is strongly remns- cent of the old Chinese proverb that he who rides a tiger finds it difficult to dismount
 Der Fuehrer is compelled to get ahead with his in- creasngly difficult business of trying to break through into the Caucasus but thus far he continuing to counter what to him is the phenomenon of an enemy which, taking the picture whole retains the init iatiVe While his operation the kerch peninsula has with considerable success yet the far more important KharkoV sector to the north where he really ought 10 be attacking with his 2000000 men, he him. self is being flung back by a fierce Red drive.
 The important fact is that the Naz chief is finding the Russian tiger plenty tough to ride However, hay ing stated this should pause and not rush headong into any conclusion about the immediate future of the titanic Russo-German struggle. Hitler is tough him self and going cause lot of trouble The position at the moment is this.
 Hitler's offensive against the Kerch peninsula which the Crmean panhandle forcing the iercely resist ing Bolsheviss slowly back toward the Kerch strait The battle is continuing and nothing decisive had hap pened at the time of this writing. The purpose of this NaZi attack was tWo-fod:
 l. Before the Fuehrer could undertake his major offensive against the vital sector between Kharkov and the Sea of Azov pease use your maps), which is the logical route to the Caucasus he had to smash the strong Red forces in the Crmea since these would be a perpetual threat against his right flank.
 2 If the Nag chief could clear the Reds off the Pen nsula and if he could get across the Strait of Kerch
 
 the other side of the Strait then he would have opened up short cut into the Caucasus, However Leander swimming tranquil IIeespont is thing and Hitler putting an army across Kerch Strait in the face of heavy enemy opposition s another Hurdlng these big u.tehes of the most difficult of military opera tons Anyway don't need to cross this Strait until We come to t.
 The NuseoVite answer 10 Hiuer's Crmean drive is fine peee of strategy The Reds in ther attack along 35-m e front n tAe KharkoV sector are () compell- ing Hitler not only to hold troops and equipment there thus preventing hm from using them in developing h.s Crmean show out are forcing him to rush rein forc6menis and @ threatening his key position and communications which he needs for any attack ag- alnst the Caucasus gateway lying between Kharkov and Rostov.
 Oi course. should the Boshevst offensive achieve a oeeQ penetration of the Naz line about Kharkov it would develop n due course into turning movement which would threaten the German right flank on the Sea o- AoV. However, such advance would be so great t~t we not justified in going far with spec uat 1n about 1t until the Russian offensive has pro- seeaed further London reports that Hitler is using 2909 "arplancs in his drive along the Kerch penin- sua and that the battle is likely 10 hinge on air power That probably IS an accurate appraisal since control of he air will be essential if the Germans succeed in reach ing the Strait and try to it. By the token Il the Reds have adequate air strength on the Strait they prevent a crossing