The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, June 5, 1943. RED ARMY HOLDS THE STRAIN.

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, June 5, 1943. RED ARMY HOLDS THE STRAIN.

While Italy is indicated as the initial invasion objective of the Allies in Europe, with a vast convoy now moving from Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, it is an important consideration in, this project that, two-thirds of the German forces, as well as most of their war material and borne front activity are still preoccupied with the Russian front. An early conference between Mr. Roosevelt and IM. Stalin is now predicted. Invasion plans still depend largely on the expectation of the Red Army remaining solid. While there has been prolonged lighting in the Kuban, and intensified air warfare, with, the Russians showing up well, the Germans may yet plan a major offensive on the Central Front in Moscow’s direction. The Russians arc standing firmly on the Donetz, where, the enemy earlier succeeded, and have also repulsed enemy attacks north-west of Moscow in the Kalinin sector. The Russians, with more planes, probably many of them from America and Britain, have been attacking the enemy transport and supplies behind the front line. A possible' indication of where the Germans plan an offensive has been their air blitz .against Kursk and Orel south-west of Moscow. But. of latest developments, one of the most significant is the enemy’s attack for several days upon Velikye Luki, formerly the German outer defense “hedgehog” of the important strip of railway connecting Novel and Novo Sakolniki, which, both arc on the main lateral communications of the central and northern sectors of .the German front. The Germans for long refused to admit the loss of Velikye Luki; which showed the Russians had overcome the problem of moving' large masses of men. and material under conditions which the enemy reckoned impossible for such movements. What it is important to recognise is that Velikye Luki is only 90 miles from the frontier of Latvia. From there the Russians could resume a deadly thrust, such as they could from Rzhev, had they captured it, although they have isolated it. Why Velikye Luki still tends to displace in attention any position to the. south ol Moscow is that it is much closer to. East Prussia and the centre of Hitler’s power. If the Russians should advance to Latvia, it would perhaps bring Norway as much as Italy into the invasion picture. Among other points of invasion canvassed in London are Greece and the coast of France and Low Countries, but it is not out of question that the Russians might endeavour to link up with the other Allies in the north as well as in the south, thus radically encircling Hitler’s fortress. Russian strategy has certainly been to engage over a broad front, which, while preventing reinforcement of one sector . by another, permits at the same time of a choice of alternative thrusts as occasion may dictate. The Germans soon must, it appears, make withdrawals from the Eastern Front., They hardly can further reinforce it. The Russians therefore should fulfil Allied expectations of holding their lines. If, however, the invasion materialises on any large scale immediately, and the enemy has two vital fronts on which to tight, the Russians may have. . a greater opportunity for offensive action, and may choose Velikye Luki as a springboard with the idea of reaching theBaltic. The enemy has apparently been obliged to copy Russian

strategy and prepare to engage r over a‘broad front at the same as lie prepares for a particular thrust, either at Moscow, ior further south. The Russian left wing last year was Hitler’s undoing, both at Stalin-

grad and after. Now it may happen that the Germans will have to absorb a cross below from the Red Army’s right wing. The latest report says Vclikye Lußki Is recognised as a danger point for the Germans’ north-western communications. and if the Russians eventually advance to cut the Moscow-Riga railway where it intersects the main lateral line from Leningrad to the Ukraine, the enemy’s lifeline behind the front will be ruptured.