Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-13
BY PAUL MALL0N


WASHINGTON, April ia
" Daily localized successes of
the Russians during the winter
may have blinded us TO the real
ity of their critical spring con-
dltion.
The unwclcome truth is they
have not captured much that the
Germans tried desperately to
hold
The assessment Of the winter
fighting. now nearing an end,
shows they saved Moscow and
won Kalinin, RoStov and the
Naldai hills. but they were not
able fully 10 relieve Lenlngrad.
While they have frequently
been reported marching into the
outskirts Of kharkov. they have
not won the city. They thought
they had 100000 NaziS trapped
at Mozhaisk and 100000 more
AZ Staraya Russia, but they
claimed no such captures in the
end
II would be well for US 10
face the fact that, at the end of
an advantageous period for Rus
sian fighting. most of the key
positions are still in Nazi hands.
The Reds have regained only
about Is per cent of the terri
tory they had lost.
TO START off the spring.
l. about 40 per cent of Rus
sian industry is in German
hands. Our shipments 10 their
fighting front have been sub
Stantial, but cannot replace this
loss. e.
Strangely, their plane produc-
ton, is up beyond year ago.
which is a very encouraging fac
tor, though all other production
is down.
The NaziS, however. are not
in such a good productive posi-
ton as you would SurmiSe from
their vast industrial seizures in
France, the lowlandS and south
eastern Europe. Hitler passed
his peak in both man power and
materials a year ago.
German plane production has
not increased in the last l.
months. incidentally. our pro-
duCtion is yet nowhere near its
peak, in fact, is just beginning
to rise.
Greatest Russian victory is
one which could not be estimated
in CommuniqueS the wear and
tear on Nazi equipment from a
year of fighting.
With their localized winter on
slaughtS. the Reds have captured
substantial quantities of tanks
and trucks. AT RoStov where the
NaZlS got out fast, much food
and equipment was obtained
But the equipment they have /
been able 10 capture would make .
small pile beside the ineStim-
able amount the NaZiS have lost
through depreciation. You can
not run tanks, guns and trucks
around for year on Russian
roads under hard usage without
expecting about 100 per cent
replacement.
A doing up these facts will
"A lead you to an expectation
that the Reds may be kicked
around a lot this spring and
summer. They should be able to
survive. They may not fold.
The fight should be long, slow
and hard. But Hitler stands an
excellent chance TO hammer back
across Rostov into the CaucaSeS
oil fields and cut off the Russian
oil supply, which would be a
calamity.
If Russia folds this year. or
her army is chased back into the
Crals, tho European war is by
no means over. England should
he able 10 survive invasion with
without tho aid Of continued
Russian opposition
WORSE symptoms for us can
w be detected in the concen-
tration of Hitlcrs energies
against Malta and in Libya.
Malta has passed her two thou
Sandth bombing. If il falls. most
OF the Mediterranean will be
closed 10 the British. Cyprus is
open 10 parachute attack. and
II II goes, Turkey will be sur
rounded.
General Rommcl in Lihya has
been heavily reinforced and has
about SiX weeks left in which 10
roach for the great British naval
base AT Alexandria, key 10 the
British position in the Near East.
Heat thereafter should help TO
protect tho defending lines.
This movement. Jointly opcr-
atlng with Na2i drive in south
crn Russia Expected az any
time now is designed 10 pinch
out tho entire Near East and ap-
proaCh Iran and Iraq.
Obviously then the prospects
for-nur side ta-the-A fre.F.u-r=--
pcan sphere Of war arc not vet
ae We would like 10 have them.
GENERAL VI STALLS
VI presence in London. along
with Harry Hopkins. is obviously
intended 20 bolster Russian mo-