Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-10-25
News Behind
The News
By Paul III
Ma||On
Nazis Turn South
to Africa as Snow
Arrives in Russia

WASHINGTON. Oct. "a. -
w Snow is beginning to fly in
Russia and the Nazi blackbirds
are turning south to Africa.
Familiar sign warnings Of
coming heavy action there are
evident through the news. Re-
Inducements to Rommel, ferried
by air, within the last single
week, amounted to around 5000
men.
The brave British stronghold
at Malta, under the Italian boot,
survived bombings the last 10
days In a row.
The French are looking appre-
hensively across the Algerian
border in the direction of Italian
activities in Tunisia, or say they
are. and certainly the fact of
Italian activities there may be
believed. Darlan is moving TO
Dakar.
And above all. the Axis broad
casts have suddenly displayed
new interest in all affaires Afri-
canus.
THE precise portent OF these
l. signs is not as easy to see.
On the surface they suggest
Hitler will seek. through a new
drive on the Suez, the hopes fo-
victory he lost at Stalingrac
and on the northern edge of tn
Caucasus.
But perhaps he is only tryln'
10 strengthen himself defen-
sively, against preparations made
by the British and Americans in
the same field. preparations
which possibly are not as OBJ
vious as those of the Germans.
So put il all down only as
certain forerunner of the great
est winter struggle yet for con-
troll Of the always Dark Con-
tinent.
II men and material were all
there is 10 warfare. the Nazis
would have captured Stalingrad
six weeks ago. Military men
everywhere thought its fall
could not be avoided then, and
a majority of them are by no
means yet convinced il will hold
through the winter.
PUT they are dealing with one
- imponderablc factor the
lndon1inatable fighting resistance
of the Russian soldiers and peo-
pie. Hitler could not calculate
Il and neither could any one
else. except perhaps the Russ
ians. They think they will hold
the city.
AS Hitler put it once in his
quaint way. what he needs at
Stalingrad is superior bru-
tally"
The Germans were obviously
tired when they reached the
city. The heavy pounding they
took on their northern flank
used up men and materials that
would have put more power into
the final drive. They must take
what they get. house by house,
and 1t is costly business.
INCIDENTALLY. the Hitler
Il announcement that he would
try artillery and dive bombing
TO reduce the city. instead OF
direct assault, was a trick. He
kept the promise for three days.
then tried direct assault again.
only 10 find the Russians had not
believed him. and had not
altered their defenses.
In the Caucasus the story is
even sadder. Snow there is
already accommodating so high in
the mountain passes the Nazi
chances are worse than at Stall
ingrad. Hitler can hardly even
hope 10 gain the richest prize
Of his whole 1912 campaign, the
Baku fields this winter.
The answer on that front is
two-fold. Russian resistance
broke after Rostov fell. and no
serious resistance was put up
until the Nazis reached approx
mately their present positions.
The Reds let them get into
the mountain passes. The Nazis
even captured the highest peak.
But dhe Russian defenses on
the way down the other side
were adequately planned and
we're not penetrated.
On this front the Nazis are
obviously suffering from the
length OF their supply lines. run
ming back 10 Rostov and beyond.
and have not been able 10
master much power.
THE Russians are making
Il fewer and fewer attempts
10 conceal their displeasure at
not getting more aid. A story.
possibly apocryphal, is being told
around town and attributed 20
them. sometimes 10 Stain.
II is said Stain has thought
the matter over thoroughly. and
reached the conclusion there are
two ways for him TO get enough
aid to win. one a natural way
and the other a supernatural
way.
The natural way would be for
the Angel Gabriel, who is
charged with the ministration
and comfort CT man. to descend
from the heavens and disperse
the Nazi armies. That would be
Natural ann,toh