Evening star., 1944-03-26
NaziS Seek Political Break
AS Only Path to Easy Peace
Hope for Rift Between Allies or Heavy Toll on
Second Front Which Might Prove
Discouraging to Americans
By Constantine Bropn

vamped their original strategy, which
consisted of holding the powerful de-
fenses on the Dnieper as long as pos
sible. The Russians have attacked with
violence and with an overwhelming
mass of troops. According to military
men well acquainted with the tactical
situation there, it is believed that the
Nazis, had they not intended to shorten
their lines drastically, could have still
been fighting on the Dnieper. They
withdrawing in relatively orderly
manner for the last two months.
Objectives Are Twofold.
The objectives achieved are twofold
On the one hand the Germans are sue
ceeding in shortening their lines con-
siderably and also getting closer to their
main supply bases; on the other hand,
they have caused the Russians to over
extend their lines of communication
to point where it might become dan
gerouS for them should the Nazis once
more be in position to resume the
offensive. While at this time it is, of
course, unimaginable that the Nazis can
start an offensive, under certain politi-
cal conditions they may be able to do so.
We know little about what is happen
ing behind the Russian lines. The COM
muniques speak of the unquestionably
true victories in the battlefield against
powerful rearguards, which at times
n 6juici ctr
is heard about the difficulties of supply
ing, principally with food, some 4,0OO,-
600 soldiers who are fighting in a coun-
try which has been put to the torch bv
the retreating enemy. Most of Russia
between the Volga and the Dniester,
where the two armies have been fight
ing each other since l941, is a barren
and desolate country. Whatever the
Germans were not able to send into the
Reich has been thoroughly devastated
by their specially trained obstruction
corps"
The Russians must receive war ma
terial and food principally from the
outside. At present it is probable that
food has priority over weapons.
The pattern of the German retreat
from Russia appears to follow the lines
OF .demarkation between GERMANY and
the y. S. S. r. until June 81, 1941,
whether this is accidental or is being
Influenced by the German diplomats is
difficult to say.
Rush Troops to West.
BY shortening their strategic lines
the Nazis have been able to rush a
large number of troops to the western
front where they believe the way to
Allied victory lies. The Berlin general
staff, according to all available informa-
ton, is determined to place everything
that the Reich still has to Illustrate the
Allied attempt to gain a permanent
foothold in Western Europe.
Until last November the Army COM
manded by Field Marshal Gerd Won
Rundstedt was composed of about 30
divisions. Not all of them were first
class troops. Tired divisions from the
eastern front were sent to bask in the
pleasant climate of France-contingents
newly formed from the latest drafts;
father" regiments containing men be-
tween the ages of SO and 40 and con-
sidered by the high command as good
only for police duty.
Since Teheran there has been drastic
change. Some of the best troops from
Russia, including SIS corps, fully trained
divisions from the depots within Ger
many which presumably had been ear
marked for the Russian front and even
troops from Italy have all been rushed to
Continued on Page C-3, Column S.