RUSSIANS WATCH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1943, Page 5

RUSSIANS WATCH

KUBAN AND TUNISIA Mark End Of German Grand Strategy Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, April 16. The Russians are watching two places on the map—the enemy bridgeheads in the Kuban and Tunisia—according to a Moscow message. Now all are waiting to hear two resounding splashes, one in the Mediterranean and the other in,the Black Sea, which will mark the end of the grand German strategy.

Whilst Soviet commentators dwell on the difficulties still facing the Allies in the last stage of the battle for the African shore, they consider that the ' enemy's difficulties are greater, whether they will try to fight a delaying action or evacuate part of their forces to Italy. Wondering which bridgehead will be captured first, commentators think that it may be Tunisia because the Germans can still reinforce the Kuban front and the Crimea and have air strength equal to that of the Russians.

The menace to the Caucasus would remain, even if the Russians cleared the whole of the Kuban, so long as the Germans held the Crimea and the approaches to Rostov. The considered effect of the Allied offensive in Africa on the eastern front would depend on the interval which elapsed before the full air and land offensive could begin against Italy.

It is clear that any lull in western Europe would enable the Germans to transfer large forces, especially air forces, at short notice between west and east. Their interior position and the excellent railways give them a natural advantage in effecting such movements. The Western Allies, on the other hand, have the advantage of being able to strike unawares from the sea and a very long coastline.