Evening star., 1942-05-27
Climux at Khurkov

~ NV
Even through the smokescreen Of
censorship, 1t Is evident that the
great battle in the Kharkov region
has reached a crucial stage. The
Moscow official communicates tacitly
admit that the Russian advance has
virtually ceased and that Marshal
Timoshenko is fighting of the big
German attack launched at his left
flank. Berlin of11cially asserts that
Timoshenko's left flank has been
pierced, and that large part OF the
Red Army has been encircled. Be-
tween those rival reports there is a
wide margin for speculation. Yet it
seems obvious that, for the moment
at least, the initiative has passed to
the Germans.
With the Kharkov campaign in
this climatic phase. 1t is possible
profitably to survey the strategic
background and analyze the tactical
situation. 1t is just over fortnight
since Marshal Timoshenko struck
suddenly with great force on an ap-
proximately 100 wide front. The
ultimate objective was Kharkov, the
chief city in the Eastern Ukraine,
strategically vital to the Germans as
the nucleus of rail and highway
communications In this entire region.
Timoshenko's drive made scant
progress north of Kharkov, but south
Of the city it punched a hole in the
German defense and rolled rapidly
westward for nearly fifty miles. 1t
was at this moment that the Ger
mans launched their big counter
attack on the Russian left flank, hit
ting at the base of the salient which
had just been created.
How far this German counter
attack has progressed we do not
precisely know. Berlin does not
claim the capture of Izyum, the rail-
head which must form Timoshenko's
supply line for his southern flank.
Study OF the map tends to discredit
the German claim of having encir-
cled the Russians, because the salient
created by Timoshenko's advance
south of Kharkov is shaped like a
blunt triangle, about fifty miles each
way. The Germans would thus have
to advance nearly fifty miles before
they could nip off the base of the
salient and trap the Russian troops
in the pocket beyond. However, the
mere threat Of such move might
well compel Timoshenko to give up
the salient and perhaps withdraw
his forces to their original lines.
This leads logically to an appraisal
Of the basic strategy behind the en-
tire campaign. Timoshenko presum-
ably started 1t as an Offensive
defensive" operation, designed to
throw monkey wrench into German
plans for their projected spring drive,
and also to take pressure off the
German attack In the Crimea on
Kerch. A glance at the map makes
1t appear doubtful whether Timo-
shenko had more than a contingent
hope Of taking Kharkov and disrupt
ing the entire German position in
the Ukraine. The basic reason is
that throughout the German-held
portion of the Ukraine there is an
excellent system of railroads, per-
mitting the rapid shifting of troops
and supplies. The Russians have no
comparable rail system on their side.
Last autumn, the Germans were I'M
able to use those captured railways
because they Mad little Russian roll
ing stock. But during the winter it
is to be assumed that the rail gauges
have been changed, so that German
rolling stock can now be generally
employed.
The profit-and-loSs balance in this
campaign presumably will be written
in terms OF cost in equipment even
more than In lives. The Russians
can afford great expenditure of man
power. But their supply Of tanks,
artillery and planes is limited. Tim
oShenko has reputation for caution
as we'll as boldness. He may thus be
expected to avoid risks which might
entail disastrous consequences.