SURPRISE TACTICS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20861, 13 August 1942, Page 5

SURPRISE TACTICS

SUCCESS OF GERMANS KEY POINTS AT STAKE (Special Correspondent.) (2 pjn.) LONDON, Aug. 11. Stalingrad, Astrakan, and Baku are now regarded as the key-points for the Russians to hold if Russia is to remain an effective factor in the war. It is now apparent that Marshal Timoshenko’s north Caucasian forces •were weaker than was expected, for which reason, when the Germans exploited successful surprise tactics Marshal Timoshenko had to choose between either defending the north Caucasus or concentrating everything possible for the defence of the Volga. He managed, by a successful withdrawal, 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, Astrakan, and Baku, then the allimportant flow of oil can be maintained. , „ „ Stalingrad is the key-town :of the whole Volga region, dominating Russia’s greatest waterway which, even in peace-time, used to carry no less 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 of the southern front.