Show Nazi Offensive Perils Rich Riche Red e Farm arm Area WASHINGTON July 15 up The German advance into the Do Don river area north of the the Caucasus mountains threatens threatens' an important agricultural region u upon on which Russia has been depending for grain meat and other food supplies supplies supplies sup sup- plies for her southern armies The loss Joss of this area would in increase increase increase in- in crease Russian demands for American American American Amer Amer- ican food supplies es at a time tim when there is an a acute ute shortage of s ships to to move war materials across sub sub- marine-infested marine waters and along axis s patrolled air ed sea lan lanes s. s The value of the north Caucasus as a producing food-producing area was emphasized emphasized emphasized em em- in ill an agriculture department department department depart depart- ment report issued Wednesday Although Althou h much has hu been written written written writ writ- ten since the beginning of the present war war about the Caucasian oil fields little attention has been given the report said to the southern Russian bread basket often associated in the public mind with the Ukraine only North Caucasus is one of the richest agricultural agricultural agricultural ag ag- areas of the the soviet union The Russians were said to have planted plant d extensive crops in the north Caucasus this year using machinery and other equipment moved from the Ukraine when the the Germans moved into that area a year ago It is possible that the Russians may be able to get much of the Caucasian wheat and barley crops harvested and moved out of German German German Ger Ger- man reach There may be less opportunity to salvage the valuable vegetable oil crops corn and tobacco |