Show T Behind the War News r r 1 t r Major M El Eliot Says By Major George Fielding Eliot EliotT I T Tire The e facts of the case seem to support the soviet statement that Marshal at attack attack at- at t- t tack in the sector was intended to forestall a German drive against and vand and that it successfully achieved that purpose The Germans moved troops from the general region of Sta- Sta lino and to strike northward against the flank of the Russians This counteroffensive counteroffensive counteroffensive seems to have been instrumental in instrumental instrumental in- in in bringing the Russian Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian advance to a stop Timo- Timo had to use up most of his immediately available reserves reserves reserves re re- re- re serves In order to check the German and prevent prevent prevent pre pre- vent his advance elements at Lozovaya from being cut off But it also appears that the German troops which made this counterattack were the reserves assembled for the attack on and they had to be di diverted diverted di- di diverted from that positive purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose to the negative purpose of stopping Up to this point therefore the operations around have been a clear cut victory for the Russians and add another another another an an- other wreath to the battle laurels laurels laurels laur laur- els of Marshal Semyon Timo Timo- an officer who Is beginning beginning beginning begin begin- ning to stand out as the best bestfield bestfield bestfield field general of this war It may be said that neither side has much to show for three weeks of fighting but this has hasto hasto hasto to be considered from the point of view of the Intentions and indeed the necessities of the two contestants It is the Germans who require decisive success The Russians know well that if they do no better than hold their ground during 1942 Germany Germany Germany Ger Ger- many has lost the war The Russians have not re retaken retaken retaken re- re taken nor reached the their statement that they had no intention of trying to retake need not be betaken betaken betaken taken literally but they certainly certainly certainly did prevent the Germans from mounting an offensive f toward As for tor the r. r Gir mans they have r nothing to hn sho for three weeks of bitter fight ing three three- weeks which them that much closer to toil bran brin u th onset of the next winter Jf sat sa severe losses and a barren it tory on the Kerch There can be no question as aa where the advantage lies t it is impossible not to Sto an the soviet 32 statement closia their to the eff effee that a few more such Germ Germa Genna victories will be to German disaster It It is necessary to point 01 ou J one salient fact act which the Kh IQ r kov operations make ap apparent a t On both sides there were battle battu of limited objective for S Sonly only limited forces were aval able Neither side t has as asye y committed its major battle r rs rf serves to action n N Neither either Old lid frt has as yet at struck tk k with its fu force in an en endeavor eavor to a major decision W The Germans probably probably probably- I Kv something in the neighbor of a hundred divisions for tor a major o offensive in Rus Russ Russa i but they are understandably r r it to commit this fore ford Once committed there can b no drawing back It would b a case of win or die and defea would be final and Already the situation in wester Europe is sufficiently threater threaten ing to make the Germans hes his tant about going after Russi lisl all out This is especially th tb case with regard to the air I sni sup P port necessary for a Russian ol ot j jAs As for the Russians the the know too well the virtues of powerful counterstroke to tob h b anxious to commit th their lr ow ow w strategic reserves until the th the have a better idea of the G Carman Car Ger German r man intentions The Germ German Gemara n have definitely lost the fl firs round and it remains to be tee see what their next move Wil will e The Germans must do some some lome thing while for the moment UK tor Russian purposes are best served c by a waiting game |