Evening star., 1942-01-04

space now. and predicted a decisive
defeat of the Nazis by the Red Army
this year.
Izvestia, the government organ.
which previously has talked only OF
driving the Germans out of Russia,
suddenly raised its sights and de-
clared:
I'VE must force the Germans to
retreat until Germany becomes the
battlefield"
That the Germans actually realize
there may be some such possibility
is indicated by unverified reports by
way of Stockholm, that the Ger
mans are building a line of fortifi-
cations in Poland
These once were started along the
border between German-occupied
and Russian occupied Poland dur
ing the period of German Russian
"co-operation." Presumably work
was stopped on them when the Ger
mans drove deep into Russia.
Salients Broken OFF.
Another line of Notifications was
reported from Stockholm to be un-
der way along the old Polish-Rus-
sian frontier.
The Germans, who have driven
from 500 to 700 miles into Russian
territory, have been driven back
about so miles in the south since
November % wnen the Russians
started their counter offensive with
the recapture of Rostov.
Since the start of the Russian
counteroffensive around Moscow on
December 6-the day before the
japanese attack on Pearl Harbor-
they have been driven back about
$50 miles in the Kaluga, Orel and
Tula sectors south OF the capital,
and about 60 miles in the Kalinin
sector north of Moscow. They have
surrendered close to 80 miles In the
Tikhvin sector south of Leningrad.
In itself this mileage is not so
impressive, because much OF it rep
resented salents broken of by the
Russians. or. as the Germans eX-
plain. contracted in a Strengthening
of the lines for winter warfare.
Mozhaisk Threatened.
However. the Germans have been
driven back from the advantageous
positions not only at Rostov. but at
Kerch in the Crimea. where they
also threatened the Caucasus.
In the Far North, their encircle-
ment of Leningrad appears to have
been Weakened
The two wedges threatening Mos
COW have been driven back so far
that another dangerous salient has
been left in the center at Mozhaisk.
It may well be cut of.
Insofar as geography is concerned,
Hitler is still in position to resume
his offensive in the spring.
On December II, however, he ad-
mitted 767 7.405 casualties to his
forces in the six months of Russian
war, 1894 of them killed.
Hitler is generally believed to have
understated his casualties. how ever,
and field reports to Washington
from Russia put German casualties
at 100000, including 1880 900
killed. The latter figure is only
about 100000 short of the roll OF
German dead for the whole of the
first World War.
Casualties Admittedly High
Russians. while placing German
casualties at 100000, admit more
than 100000 for themselves.
The British estimate that Hitler
has lost about 35 per cent of his air
force, while the Russians claim he
has lost 5000 tanks, $4,000 planes
and 10000 guns.
Such figures, indicating the Ger
man Army has suffered in one Of the
most disastrous campaigns Of his
tory. might explain Hitlei's dismissal
of his supreme commander. Won
Brauchitsch. the frenZied appeals
to the German people to shed the
clothing from their own backs for
the soldiers. and Hitler's failure to
predict victory for 1912 as he did
for 194l.
If his power, the backbone of the
Axis, is broken by a continued Rus
sian onslaught. there can be little
doubt but that the Axis will fall,
regardless of what happens in the
Philippines or elsewhere.
1t is to be remembered, however,
that Napoleon continued to fight for
two years and a half between Mos
cow and Waterloo.
Norway, Possible Front
London observers in speaking OF
the possible British front on the