The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1941 WHAT WILL RUSSIA DO?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 294, 13 December 1941, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1941 WHAT WILL RUSSIA DO?

Germans have admitted that they are unable to continue the campaign against the Russians in Europe; they are now retiring to a defence line which they hope to hold against attacks. In these circumstances what will Russia do? The Russian Soviet State must be judged against the back

ground of its own pre-war condition and against the background of its war experiences. Soviet Russia achieved much in many directions, but it possessed no reserves of economic strength. Despite the flying start the Socialist set-up gained by the repudiation of all previously contracted debts and the sale of the treasures which Tsarist Russia had collected in profusion down the years, it was incapable, for various reasons, of lifting itself above a condition which Ins been described by a fugitive from Norway, who recently crossed to Vladivostock, as ‘‘a vast slum. Part of the cause of this display of poverty was the deliberate intention of the rulers of the country to forego present consumption in order that capital equipment might be acquired either by purchase or production; but part of it may also be ascribed io the absence of sufficient individual reward for work and. more particularly, the denial of opportunities for the exercise of individual initiative in productive activity. But whatever the causes mav be it was a poor Russia which found itself matched against a superb fighting and production machine in Nazi Germany. Every successful devastation effort which Germany accomplished robbed Russia of its precious production-capacity which, despite much advertised large-scale scheme, remained very low throughout the Soviet Union.

The Russians were aware that they would lose the Eastern Ukraine and Donetz Basin industrial areas and made provision for the transference of factory machinery to beyond the Ural Mountains. Despite these removals. Russia has suffered severely from a loss of production capacity. There are four industrial areas as yet untouched: One inns from Moscow eastward, another eastward of the Urals, a third in the Lake Baikal area, and a fourth in the Pacific Provinces northward from A ladivostock. Russia feels that it has up to now borne the heavy burden of the German attack, and doubtless it feels justified’in taking a respite from actual fighting, insofar as that is possible, in order to prepare for the renewal of the German offensive which is sure to come during next spring. This line of thought was indicated in Stalin’s speech when he asked for the establishment of a second front in the war.

The position which now confronts Russia is fraught with difficulties. It will be incumbent upon her to maintain a series of attacks against the German positions to prevent them becoming bases for the next offensive, and it will also be necessary to have sufficient str.ngth on hand to permit of any favourable opportunity being fully exploited. Such a policy cannot be pursued without a full complement of equipment, particularly of tanks and artillery, ami in order that these shall be provided in sufficient quantities for use in Europe against the most formidable land foe. Russia will naturally desire to avoid extending her commitments elsewhere, at least for the time being. A ladivostock would make an admirable base from which bombing operations could be carried out agonist Japan, but it is equally true that the industrial area in the Pacific Provinces is within bombing distances of planes operating from aerodromes tn Japan. Russia must consider whether the respite which she is now likely Io gain-temporary though it be—is worth more on the whole than the damage which she could inflict upon Japan in the exchanges of an air war. It would be wrong to assume, as does the London Daily Express. that Russia is in duty bound to make war upon Japan immediately. There would be full ground of justification for that course being taken, the chief being that Japan has shown no disposition to help Russia but on the contrary has done all she could to help hinder her and to aid Germany. Japan also can be ex peeted to make a lightning raid against Vladivostock when such action suits her purpose. She has shown bow untrustworthy she is by her conduct towards the United States of America, speaking peace while drawing the dagger. But Russia must weigh carefullv the advantages and the disadvantages of immediate action in the Far East against its present policy ol engaging the enemy on the Europeaen front and allowing sleeping dogs tn other directions to lie undisturbed. Should Russia decide to take no i clinic action against Japan such decision must not be misunderstood as indicating an indifference on the part of Stalin to the course which events are taking in the Pacific.