THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Tuesday, January 27, 1942. THE SOVIET VICTORIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24825, 27 January 1942, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Tuesday, January 27, 1942. THE SOVIET VICTORIES

The practically unbroken success of the Soviet counter-offensives against the Nazi invaders of- Russia has been continued for two months. The territory regained in that time, which is computed at 5000 square miles, is very considerable, though it represents less than a quarter of that conceded to the Germans in the advance which brought them almost to the gates of Moscow. Territorial gains and losses, however, are not the sole yardstick by which to measure the military position on the Eastern Front. The original Soviet strategy was not based on strongly defending all frontiers, and only a delaying action was fought when the invaders first crossed to Russian soil. The “scorched earth” policy, which scarcely had the desired effect of holding up the Germans, has made desolate the land behind the enemy in their present resistance. Territory matters little in the bulk. The real importance of the smashing Russian drives is that they have relieved the threat to Moscow, placed Leningrad beyond immediate danger, saved the rich Donetz area, and spoiled Germany’s prospects of invading the Caucasus. That is the first Russian victory—-a victory on a scale beyond computation in square miles. The next stage, which is now proceeding, is the seizure from the Nazis of one position after another in territory which had been selected for the purpose of stabilising a line that was to be held until the spring, when a new offensive will, perhaps, be launched by Germany. Prisoners taken when Mojaisk fell declared that the High Command had ordered that the city should be held to the last. It can be certain that Herr Hitler, before departing from Smolensk, left similar orders there. But not only has Smolensk’s position been rendered very difficult, but the Russian strategy is such that the huge Nazi armies on the central front are endangered by pincer and flanking movements. It appears that the Nazis are no longer presenting a cohesive front to their inexorable enemies, and the campaign is developing into a series of actions in which the Russians hold the initiative. The third element in the Soviet’s tremendous recovery is the destruction and loss of men and material which the Nazis have suffered. Not only are the losses a serious matter in themselves, but the psychological effect of these losses both upon the armies in Russia and in the Reich itself must be injurious to morale. The Russians themselves, on the evidence of Sir Stafford Cripps, who has just relinquished the office of British Ambassador in Moscow, are prepared- mentally and materially to carry their present drives as far as they can be taken and then to resist the spring German offensive when it comes. Their own industrial production has been hampered surprisingly little, and they have nine million men under arms. In fact, they can be relied upon to deal with whatever armies Herr Hitler is prepared to spend upon the Eastern Front, and are gaining in strength even while they are engaged in their present magnificent actions. Their capacity to face, and mete out punishment to, huge Nazi forces not only assures the safety of their homeland, but must shape to a large extent Herr Hitler’s future strategy. His choice in initiative has at last been limited, while the opportunities of the Allies expand.