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Show ''' i i i i i 4 FORWARD MARCH By H. S. Sims, Jr. BATTLE OF THE CAUCASUS IS GRAVE BUT SOVIET POWER TO FIGHT LONG WAR CONTINUES The student of the present war understands that changes that occur oc-cur from week to week, in the relative position of battling armies, have little bearing upon the ultimate ulti-mate outcome of the vast struggle. strug-gle. The decision will go to the side that outlasts the other, not the alliance al-liance that seizes the greater expanse ex-panse of territory. The length of the war will be determined by the strength of Germany, as measured by the power of the ring of steel to resist the pressure of her enemies. ene-mies. 1 The termination of the present conflict will come in the same way that the first World War was end- ed, by the exhaustion of the Axis powers. Germany will be worn thin by the grinding of battle and when Nazi militarism is no longer able to support the circle of aggression, ag-gression, the collapse will be swift. Soviet's Contribution Enormous . . . It is essential to realize this if one comprehends the enormous contribution that Russia is making mak-ing to the ultimate victory of the United Naions. It is true that the Germans are advancing to the Caucasus, Cau-casus, that Russia has suffered severe se-vere losses and that no man knows how long the Red army can stand up to the foe that aims to destroy the Soviet. What is just as true, however, is that Russia covers a vast expanse, with land in abundance and with an amazing industrial preparation for a war against Germany. The Nazis are far from the Ural line, not having conquered the Volga line, and yet, even if Hitler reaches reach-es the Urals the Soviet is equipped equip-ped to continue the battle. Red Army Intelligently Led . . . Russian military leaders have fought intelligently, retiring before be-fore their more powerful antagonist, antago-nist, taking what toll of men and materiel was possible, but always falling back upon new reserves and to new battle lines. Beyond them, into western Siberia, stretch new industrial areas, developed within the past fifteen years. It would be a mistake, of course, to believe that the Soviet has not been weakened by the gains that the Nazis have made. Nevertheless, Neverthe-less, it would be just as erroenous to conclude, as some of our armchair arm-chair strategists so quickly decide, that the Red giant will be helpless, help-less, even in the face of more serious ser-ious reverses. Organized opposition, based on the Ural line, would keep millions of German soldiers in the east when the second front becomes a menace in the west. Just as in the earlier World War, the Russians will pin down a great part of Germany's fighting strength and make possible pos-sible a great victory in the west. Some Reasons For Confidence ... There is nothing to be gained by overlooking the rapid advances that the Germans have made in their campaign to reach the Caucasus. Cau-casus. Once more the striking pow- er of the Reich has been demon- strated but perhaps there is some comfort in the contrast between the limited field of attack in 1942 and the extensive operations along the entire front in 1941. 1 There is meaning to be found in the Russian counter-offensive of the past winter when Russian generals, gen-erals, despite their losses, and with the knowledge that Hitler would renew his mechanized assault this year, felt able to consume supplies sup-plies and some manpower in widespread wide-spread attacks that seriously impaired im-paired German plans. Another observation that appears ap-pears logical is that the Russians continue to wage war warily, taking tak-ing heavy punches that hurt in places but maintaining defensive positions along the inactive zones. This negatives the idea that the Russians are about to go down for the count because, if this were true, the generals wuold be compelled com-pelled to risk everything upon counter-attacks to relieve the pressure pres-sure that threatens the Caucasus. Fighting Slavs Live Up To Name . . . The Russians are once more demonstrating their ability to take it just as they did in the earlier struggle. Time and again, between 1914 and 1917, the Russians were terribly beaten, only to come surgj ing back in an offensive sweep that not only relieved the Allies in the west but knocked threateningly threatening-ly upon the very foundations of the Austro-German alliance. A reading of the history of the last war will add some light to what is taking place in Russia today. to-day. It will create new admiration for the fighting Slavs who, in this war, have more to lose than they had in the days of the Czar. The present Red army battles for a revolutionized homeland, where the common man has gained greater rights than under the Czars and there is no prospect for any revolution revolu-tion to take the Soviet out of the battle. Naturally, it is essential that the United Nations take appropriate action to seize the opportunity that Russian resistance offers for a vital blow against the Axis. However, How-ever, it is just as important for our military leaders to make certain their plans and sure their preparation prepara-tion in order that the blow, when it falls, will be decisive. |