Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1942. RUSSIA’S PLIGHT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1942. RUSSIA’S PLIGHT.

from Russia continues to be disquieting, the enemy progress in the Caucasus-Caspian area being rapid, suggesting that little resistance was offered in these sectors. In the northern area of | this southern front, the Russians claim to be holding their own, and the fact that | the Germans have not taken Voronezh is important. Still further north, apart from occasional local engagements, both sides are comparatively passive, suggesting that neither has the men and material available for a big offensive in these parts. This stalemate tells mostly in Russian favour, but not to the extent to have vital influence on the main operations in the South.

The importance of the Caucasian and Caspian oil-wells area has been stressed by all commentators, but the Axis are a long way yet, from capturing all they seek in this direction, if depriving the Russians of some of their normal oflsupplies. The “scorched earth” policy is being applied by the retreating Russians to oil and other properties and stocks, th*ns preventing the enemy from obtaining immediate returns to compensate for | the heavy losses suffered. As with most other items, the Russians do not let even their Allies know what the position is regarding reserve stocks of oil and other commodities, but it is believed that large supplies have been built up in the Urals region, as a set-off against to-day’s contingency. The Baku oilwells are not yet immediately threatened. Apart from oil, the Caucasus is not a national storehouse. There is little iron, few steel plants, and a scarcity of coal. The Ukraine was a much greater loss. The Russian food situation is rapidly deteriorating, but the holding of the Voronezh area is giving opportunity for harvesting the district wheat.

Taking the most cheerful view, however, it is difficult to find anything beyond cold comfort in the Russian situation. The enemy has another two months available for major offensive operations before Winter calls a halt on most of the Russian front. Can the Russians limit the enemy advance, meanwhile? Only tunc can tell. There seems to be no immediate sign of a Russian collapse, but the strict censorship on news to friend and foe gives (■•uessing much scope. The Ambassadors conference at Moscow, Stalin’s delay in receiving Mr. Roosevelt’s personal envoy, and similar happenings, may be. interpreted as individual judgment dictates, but few would claim that there is little cause for anxiety. On the other hand, German hopes and plans for speedy conquest of Russia have been shattered, enormous casualties in men and material have been incurred, and Hitler would probably prefer peace to this kind of “progress. Meanwhile, Britain and U.S.A, are doing all that is possible to relieve their harassed ally, by forwarding supplies, and by hostile action against Axis centres. The Russians would be ungrateful to un-der-estimate this aid, just as would be the Allies to belittle the contribution to the common cause that the Russian Army has made. It is to be hoped that soon it will be the Axis that is hard pressed on fronts, new and old. Coming events are casting their publicity before.