CROPS FROM UKRAINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 150, 28 June 1943, Page 5

CROPS FROM UKRAINE

EXPECTED BY GERMANY Recd. 9.30 p.m. New York. June 20. Provided their calculations are not upset by the summer’s military operations, this year will be the tirst since they swept the area in 1941 that the Germans can be expected to derive any major benefits by their occupation of the Ukraine, says Carl Sulzberger in the New York Times. When the Germans took over the province nearly two years ago it was too late and too chaotic for them to secure any important food gains. The destruction wrought by war conditions, the disappearance oi livestock and draught animals either by slaughter or evacuation, and the removal of most of the tractors under the scorched earth policy, prevented the Axis from gathering any harvest. The prospects this year are far better from the German viewpoint. Climatically, June has been an excellent month. May provided heavy rains, making up for the exceptionally dry winter, with light snowfalls, and above-average harvests are expected throughout Russia. While this helps unoccupied Russia it also will unquestionably help Germany in some of its conquered areas. The organisation for occupation is more than 18 months' tenancy of the major portion of the Ukraine.