Detroit evening times., 1943-09-12
Tbe
War Today
Fall Of Taoanroq
Forces Germans
Back 10 pRiieeeef
By c,.aRh II wooDu tRB

bN NiRhh IL N'Vt'N NM
tSee Map in Column Three
R.ar Admira TINTED state. Navy
THE FALL Of Sta,lno and
raeanrog marks the end Of
the Germans Ereat poners
basin salient as the Rcd army
unchecked is steadily tNruSJne
The NazI7 back through rr7C
southern sector of the Ukraine
and along the coast of the sea
of Azoy, toward the Dnlepcr
River.
In the current offensive the
Russian~arny is now st The peak
OF It's power and efficiency II
has sho, Itself 20 bc not only
stronger and more SkIlliully
"a handled than rs -Aazl ada erSapN,
bot also able 10 advance stead
rs over an ever widening front
The apparent feStifenee-et
Soviet troops, after two months
Of savage fighting AS indicated
bY tho Red arTnys powerful
blow in the new TaCanr6g Sec
tor - definitely forecasts the
withdrawal Of the enemy 5
forces 10 a defense line parallel
Ing the Dnieper from Kremen-
chue 10 Dnepropetrovsk and
Zaporozne thence south to Nell
tnpol and the Sea Of AzoY.
1.-THE STAGE is now set for
this withdrawal along a 200
mile front from KharkoV 10 the
Sea OF AzoV-one of the most
important land fronts in the
present war
By- tAeiF-eun admission the
Germans already have been
making strategic Withdrawals y
under the general plans for
Shortening their lines -
though very likely their hasty
retreats arc more from fear Of a
greater setback than the one
experienced at Taganrog.
As 10 how far west the Rus
slams will be able to 60 depends,
in large measure, on the BRIEF
autumn rainy season which may
put a temporary stop 10 their
advance due 10 bad road trans
portation.
During this period there will
be a momentary shifting OF ad-
vantage on the Russian front
which may give the Germans an
opportunity.-with the benefit
OF rail facilities--to reorganize
their armies and stage a coun-
teroffensive of at least suffi-
cient force TO stabilize the front.
: SHOULD THEY fail. how
ever. the way will be opened for
d Soviet winter drive that may
force the Nazis across the Dnei-
per TO the defense position held
IN the first German attack Of
l941--one of the strongest in
continental Europe.
This line would be some 200
miles shorter than the one pres
entity held. and could be main
fained with approximately two
Thirds of the present force.
This would free some 60-odd
divisions for more important
Huty elsewhere-as, : for eX-
2mple, Italy, now that the AL
lied invasion is on, or more
Particularly western Europe
where they would be most valu-
nble in case the Allies should
bpen another front in that the
eter.
In any case. il would bring
The German forces much closer
20 their supply lines than when
Extended 10 the Don River.
= BY the same token the short
Rning of the German defense
Zine would also work TO the ad-
Vantage OF the Russians by
bringing their dominant air
force 200 miles closer 10 Ger
man cities-already harsssed by
She Raj and American Air
Force.
THE RED army already has
advanced further westward dur
sng the present campaign than
On last winters, offensive-w which
Registered the maximum Rus
Sisn recovery 49, but are still
pushing hard toward the Dnie-
SDer River
Meanwhile. with the two Axis
key strongholds. Stahno. hit
1er's southern front headquar-
ters). and Taganrog out OF the
way. the Russians undoubtedly
&lll- attempt to reach the sweep
ing eastward bend of The Dnie-
per somewhere in tho vicinity Of
Dnepropctrovsk or ZsPeFozhe
before winter sets IN
This ideal objective. once al
tained. would imperil the whole
Nszi position In the DonetS
basin, protect the great Ukraine
grsnsry and put Tie Russians
In good position 20 cut of the
Crimea.