VITAL CENTRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24277, 19 May 1942, Page 3

VITAL CENTRE

HEAVY INDUSTRIES JUNCTION OF RAILWAYS KHARKOV'S FORMER ROLE , Equally in its industrial resources and in its value as a focal point of , rail transport, Kharkov is of enormous importance. With a population , of over 840,000, it was, in time of peace, one of the most productive centres of heavy industry in the , Ukraine, the whole of which was rapidly being developed along industrial lines. In Kharkov there was a large tractor plant which, like a similar plant at Stalingrad on the Volga, had in recent years been reorganised for the mass production of caterpillar tractors, which had not only agricultural, but also military value. Another of- its many factories made electric generators in sizes up to a unit capacity of 180,000 kilowatts. Its production included large numbers of electric motors of all types. I' rom its locomotive works came a large contribution to the motive power of the Soviet railways. Other industries included various classes of nietallugry and smelting, coal distillation, ropes, chemicals and wooden ware. The whole of the Ukrainian administration was centred on Kharkov. Eight lines of railway radiate from it—three of them important through routes, serving the Donetz coalfields and the Kr-ivoi Rog iron district. Six services formerly ran from Kharkov to Moscow, Kiev and Odessa; via Grozny and Baku to Teheran; and via Uatum and Tiflis to Baku. The town was founded in 1654 as a fort of the Free Ukraine and was an outpost of Moscow in its struggle with the Poles. The faithfulness of the Kharkov Cossacks to the Tsar won the town many privileges. It boomed during the industrial exploitation of the Ukraine's resources in the latter half of the I9th century, but its progress was interrupted by war conditions from 1914 onward and especially by the civil war of 1917-20, when it was successively occupied by the Germans, the Ukrainian Nationalists, the Red Army and Denikin's troops. It was finally captured by the Red Army in 1920. Soviet industrial engineers excel! at the rapid restoration of industry, and, should Russian forces succeed in reoccupying Kharkov, a great effort would probably be made to set its manufacturing capacity in operation again. In any case, the possession of such a dominating railway junction would greatly strengthen the whole Soviet tactical position in the Ukraine. GREATER EFFORT NEEDED fßccd. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 17 "The struggle in which we are engaged has readied the stage when it is necessary for much greater joint efforts (o be made by our two countries, in order to achieve an earl.V and decisive victory," said the Soviet Ambassador to Britain. .M. Maisky, in a letter read at a meeting addressed by Mr. K. Shinwell, M P. M. Maisky added that the greatest possible collaboration was an essential factor. SENATORS' PETROL PRIVILEGES NOT WAIVED WASHINGTON, May 17 | Without debate the Senate rejected by Of! votes to two Senator Downey's resolution seeking to pledge Congressmen to waive their special privileges in connection with gasoline rationing. The only senators voting for the resolution were Senators S, Downey and C. Pepper, both Democrats. The Price Administrator, Mr. Leon Henderson, said that the names of all ijersons holding petrol ration cards entitling them to extra allowances will be made available for inspection and publication. OFFICERS RECAPTURED BREAK FROM PRISON CAMP TORONTO, May 17 Royal Canadian Mounted Police have recaptured the two German aviation lieutenants who escaped from their prisoners-of~war camp by hiding in clothing crates. The Minister ol National Defence, Colonel .1. Ralston, announced in Ottawa that disciplinary action was being taken in respect to the personnel concerned. It was Lieutenant Frederich Oeser's third attempt to escape; th« police caught him at Belleville railway station. Lieutenant Aberhard Wildermutch was caught at Union Station, Toronto.