Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-09
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Portent of Rostov

The amazing punch developed by
the Caucasian army in the concen-
trio drive on Rostov promises decisive
results in that Soviet objective. BY
desperate defense, the Germans had
succeeded in holding up the Russian
advance on Rostov from the east and
north. But within the past few days,
the Red Army of the Caucasus has
smashed the whole Axis defense line
to the southwark. reaching the line
of the lower Don from a point above
Rostov clear to the Sea of AZov. Al
though the Don widens here to a
broad estuary, it is normally frozen
over at this season, so it is not the
barrier presented during most of the
year. Infantry crossings over the ice
are thus possible at many points
under cover of a barrage by massed
artillery such as the Russians are
known to possess.
The Axis hold on Rostov is rem
dered still more tenuous by the rapid
progress Of Russian arms further to
the northward, where the capture of
Kursk, Nazi stronghold, is claimed.
Soviet columns bite steadily south
ward In the broad sector between
Voroshilovgrad and Kharkov, threat
ening to break through to the sea-
coast west of Rostov This would
mean another Stalingrad. The Ger
man high command has taken that
bitter lesson to heart if Soviet air
reconnaissance is to be trusted, which
reports columns of Axis troops re-
treating from Rostov. If that be
true, we may expect the city to be
evacuated by the Germans after a
delaying action. The whole area east
and north of Rostov would have to
be simultaneously evacuated That
would abolish a dangerous salient
and enable the Axis to reform on
much shorter line running almost
due south from Kharkov to some
point on the Sea Of Azov.
Whether that new line would hold
depends largely on the fate of Khar-
kov, the great industrial metropolis
and railroad center which is the
anchor to the entire Axis line in
Southern Russia. But the Axis hold
on Kharkov itself is being increas-
ingly menaced by Russian pressure
north as well as south of that key
stronghold. Everywhere the Red
armies are following the technique
displayed so successfully at Stain
grad and elsewhere, smashing in be-
tween the links in the chain of for
tilted Axis strong points, isolating
those "hedgehogs," and reducing
them by combined massed artillery,
giant tanks and infantry attacks.
Nowhere do the Germans seem able
to stem the Russian offensives by
their hedgehog defense as they did
last winter. Whether this Is due to
greater Russian strength or relative
German weakness, the result is clear.
Kharkov seems to be the acid test
for the immediate future. If that
anchor snaps, an Axis retreat to the
line OF the Dnieper would be logically
indicated. That is roughly 200 miles
west Of the present front. and would
carry the Axis back to Kiev. with a
possible loss Of the Crimea as well.
Such an operation, conducted in the
depth Of winter, could not be accom-
plished without heavy losses in men
and equipment. On the other hand,
II the Axis can hold the vital points
in its present line, another six weeks
will mark the waning OF winter and
the prolonged thaws which turn Rus
STA into sea of mud Both sides are
thus racing against time. The two
or three months armistice during
the spring season, when General Mud
takes command and forbids major
offensives would give the German
high command a breathing spell to
reorganize and prepare for the sum-
mer campaign. But spring is still
far of and the Red offensive rolls on
rapidly. Much may happen between
now and then.