DEFEND UKRAINE'S INDUSTRIAL HEART

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEFEND UKRAINE'S INDUSTRIAL HEART

ON NEW FRONT

Effort To Hold Invaders Until Winter United Press Association. —.c.opyrijrlrt. Rec. 5 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 15. Despite German claims that the Russian army in the Ukraine is approaching utter collapse. Marshal Budenny is reported to be successfully continuing the withdrawal of : his forces from the threatened areas westwards of the Dnieper. 'There is. however, little doubt that Marshal Budenny is in a critical position. Moscow denies the German claim to have captured Krivoirog, an important mining centre. The Times Stockholm correspondent says further withdrawals by the Russians may occur until the Germans have marched themselves, like Napoleon's army, to rags and tatters. There is nothing trustworthy to indicate that Marshal Budenny'sforces are disintegrating or are enveloped. However, they are engaged in difficult operations which will be costly. The next few days alone can show whether the German drive in the Ukraine will be even partly successful, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. Hitler's primary" aim presumably is to capture the important industrial region inside the bend of the Dnieper, where roughly a third of the Ukraine's industry is placed-.

This area contains the great Dnieper dam and in addition Krivoirog and the important industrial area of Dnepropetrovsk.

The Russians admit that the Germans have made considerable -progress, but declare that Berlin claims are nevertheless exaggerated. It will soon be seen to what extent Marshal Budenny's armies have deliberately retreated with the object of reaching country easier to defend and more essential to retain than the rural western Ukraine.

If the Russians defend a line across ; the bend of the Dnieper; the Germans j will not only have to fight in difficult terrain, but will also have to deal i with the industrial population inside the bend. The population is intensely patriotic and devoted to the present regime, and is also largely descended from the toughest of the freedom-loving Cossacks who fought the Polish and Turkish invaders for centuries. Race Against Time The Times correspondent on the • German frontier says authoritative! neutrals doubt whether Marshal j Budenny could hold up the Germans permanently on the Dnieper, but say that is unnecessary because the \ rapid approach of winter makes it j imperative that the Germans secure! an immediate decisive victory. It is: generally agreed that Marshal j Btfcdenny can delay the Germans i long enough to prevent a successful | penetration of the East Ukraine before the winter, which would give the Russians time to recuperate, reorganise and receive aid from America-. Roads Become Quagmire It is officially stated in Berlin that Rumanian. Hungarian, Slovak and Italian detachments have assisted in mopping up opperations in the ; Ukraine. The Berlin radio, emphasising the difficulties of the German troops, says the Pruth, Dniester, Bug and Dnieper Rivers are all unusually wide and deep. Continuous rains have transformed the roads and fields of the Ukraine into a quagmire. The Russian midnight communique says: "Our troops to-day 1 continued fierce fighting against the enemy idong th* whole front.'