SOVIET DEFENCE STRATEGY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 270, 13 August 1942, Page 5

SOVIET DEFENCE STRATEGY

Enforced Choice (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, August 11.. Stalingrad, Astrakhan, and Baku are now regarded as the key points for the Russians to hold if Russia is going to remain an effective factor in the war. It is now apparent that Marshal Timoshenko’s North Caucasian forces were weaker than was expected, and therefore, when the Germans exploited their successful surprise tactics, Timoshenko had to choose either to defend the North Caucasus or to concentrate everything possible for the defence of the Volga. He managed, 'by successful, withdrawals, to keep the largest proportion of his armies intact, and his decision to protect the Volga is regarded in London as being undoubtedly sound. The lower Volga'is one of the most important Russian supply routes, and . the sole remaining route by which oil from Baku can be transported in considerable quantities to the interior. If the Russians can hold Stalingrad, Astrakhan, and Baku, then the all-im-jiortant flow of’ oil cap be maintained. Stalingrad is the key town of the whole Volga region, dominating Russia’s greatest waterway, which even in peacetime used to carry no fewer than 30,000,000 tons of freight annually. It has been one of the most vital reception areas for factories evacuated from the west last year. It is also a great munition dump for the whole southern front. The questiofl arises whether the Germans will attempt to force the Caucasus Mountains to reach Baku or strike swiftly across the north Caucasus, where only foothills impede them. If they reached Makhachkala, they would be able to establish flying fields and bomb shipping on the Caspian. The Germans may try to en-

circle Marshal Timoshenko’s armies by reaching Makhachkala and advancing the 50 miles from the Don to the Volga. Other key points on the Russian front are Voronezh and Rzhev. It is felt that if the Russian counter-offen-sive developed satisfactorily in these areas, it would be of valuable aid. The inter-Allied talks which are now proceeding in Moscow are regarded as of the first importance; they undoubtedly include discussions on what aid can be given to Russia by the Allies. One result of a German success in the Caucasus will be that the approaching winter will now cut both ways, for the Soviet Union’s economic losses have been severe. Russia’s main supply problem is now fuel; she has lost more than half of her coal production, with the result that European Russia faces a cold, coalless winter, for there is little hope of the coal from the Urals and Kuznetsk districts being available. Grim Hour For Allies. The Russians have lost one-third of their wheat and 60 per cent, of their iron. Mr. Negley Farson, writing in the "Daily Mail,” declares that the food position in Russia is already alarming. It is a grim hour for the Allied nations, with the Germans striking ever deeper in Russia’s vitals, with Rommel still threatening Egypt, with the Japanese ready to strike at Siberia, with the civil disobedience in India— India, which can be regarded as the focal point and desired meeting-point of both the Germans and Japanese. It can be borne in mind, however, that there is evidence of great strain on the German home front, and that in the battles now being fought the stakes at issue are almost as large for the Germans as for the Russians. The German armament workers are being hard driven, while the Germans have' cut down civilian standards in food and fuel rationing and also hours of rest. Meanwhile, the British and American strength is growing in Britain.