Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-08-22
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Today
Drive on KharkoV
Spurs Red Armies.
To New Successes
By CLARK H. WOODWARD
Rear Admiral {. > >s,y

By CLARK II. WOODWARD
Rear Admiral C. =. Navy
WASHINGTON Aug. a.
The successful drive on Khar-
kov. Rus>ias third CITY, follow
ing 50 soon after the stunning
twin victories Of Ore and Be-
gorod-the greatest triumph 81
the Red army ir three years Of
wars p demonstration o. the
speed and violence of fhc Rus
sian summer offensive.
II had psychological, as we'll
as military value
Failure OF Germany s. Super-
defensive AZ KurSk proved the
superiority Of the Red aruy's
methods, skill and ability 10
conduct swift. mobile warfare.
II has shown punch and power
10 sustain offensivcS. The Rod
high command has outthought
ouruianned and OutnIanCIyCTE1
1.-The Wanted German generals.
The Russians struck hack N
the Orel regien on July l.. and
|the action soon developed into
a major campaign. The entire
herman line from SrolenSk TO
the DonetS BASIN Is ailame.
IN MANY WAYS-Particu-
larry the bhtz methods en-
ployed-i' rivals the original
German push into Soviet terri
|tory, one OF the most extrsor-
binary things about this cam
paign is the Red arrny's- ca
pacity 70 throw fresh battle
|unitS-reServes Of unexpected
puality, tanks artillery, planes,
etc--into the fight.
Russia apparently has Staked
Everything on speed and con-
centrated fire power, with the
result thst the fted army wTti1
INCREASING momentum, contin-
ues 10 roll along in an ever in
tensified and extended struggle,
I'm fact the present Soviet Of
fensive offers a grave threat 10
the whole German position IN
Russia. Defeat stareS the NaZi
army in the face
Kharkov is Of extreme i'm
portance. Until recently il was
one OF GerrnanyS strongest de-
fense Decentralization Of the
eastern Ukrainian defense sys-
hem. without which the Donets
area cannot possibly be held.
IN RUSSIAN hands il will
become the springboard for
rnajor offensive and the base
for wider operations 10 the
south and westward along the
|Ukrainian steppes.
Indications are that the Rus
slams, who hold the initiative,
are preparing for another large
scale attack against Dnepro-
petrovsk, l25 miles southwest
of Kharkov and on the eastern
bend of the Dnieper.
The drive on Kharkov, there
fore, may be consumed as the
first step in the resumption Of
the push 10 the banks Of that
big river which the Russians so
nearly brought 10 spectacular
success last winter.
Because OF the outstanding
and rapid successes obtained so
|far in their first summer often
sive-and because Of the speed
|of the NaZi retreat--it is be-
lieved that the Russians are en-
couraged 10 carry on full
scale offensive into the winter
in the hope of obtaining a decI.
sion by spring
AS IN last winters Soviet Of
fenSive toward the Dnieper
bend, the Red army is pushing
Westward al such rate that
|the German forces in the bend
|of the Donets River are threat
ened with entrspment or re-
|treat 120 miles 10 the power
full Dnieper River line.
In view Of the experience
with the Russian ofiensives
during the past minor winters,
3the German high command un-
Questionably will want % avoid
a repetition during the coming
winter particularly as the Ger
pnany army Of la43 is not equal
10 It's predecessors Of 1912
|or 1e4l
In all probability therefore
they will want n withdraw
many miles 70 the westward. IS
the German leaders are well
aware thar their forces are
spread out TOO far and 100 thin.
Commitments must be reduced
in order 70 be snie 20 defend
what really Is vital
As 10 where the new defense
lines Will be located ~ of
course. snybodys guess Wher-
ever IL may be Will depend IN
large degree upon tho speed ~
the Rec arr7ys advance IN the
course o. ire next few weeks.
ppyright 1919 IrtsfnSto1sI News Ssrv.
Note Opinions and EsssFtions MADE
herein are NO, offieiai Or Teflee'inE