The gigantic operations, of which Hit i i " hitler e last Friday as having commenced some forty-eight hours previously, now appear to be an attempt by the Germans to throw out a pincer movement for the purpose of encitcling Moscow, if possible. The plan seems to be to make two determined advances, one, out of the Valdai Hills, 200 miles north-west of Moscow, and, the other, from Roslavl, 21 miles to the south-west of the capital, The distance in a straight line between the two points is approximately 250 miles, and it is upon that front where Marshal Timoshenko opponents. The Germans appear to be en-has been so successfully counter-attacking. A Gewvouring to swing round the flanks of the Marshal's main army, which 18 at present in the vicinity of Smolensk, and to surround it if possible, though there is every reason to believe that. even if they do succeed in pushing their two attacks well home, the Red commander will be able to prevent encirclement by a rapid retreat towards Vyasma, and perhaps even further back to Borodine.
It is reported up to the present that the Russians are succeeding in holding up the German war machine, both sides claiming local successes, but, as this latest battle is not yet a week old, it is probable that several days will have to pass before it will be possible to assess what progress the Germans will have been able to make. That they are all out to obtain a decision before the rigours of winter clamp down on that part of Russia within the next month, or so may be taken for granted, and the report last week to the effect that they were making use of almost their last reserves is a sufficient indication of the desperation with which the German high command is fighting to have some tangible success to announce to their war-wearied people. Meanwhile, with the exception of a powerful German thrust near Poltava, where they are being held, and some fighting outside the peninsula of Pere-kop, there is comparatively little to report on the rest of the front. The pressure on Len-ingram has slackened, according to Moscow There is no immediate threat of capture. while it is indicated that far from the city being completely invested road and rail communications are still being maintained.
The fact that the Germans are being held at Poltava casts an interesting light on recent German reports of the catastrophic defeat of Marshal Budenny's army, and the execution of its commander, His army has been regrouped. and reinforced with the result that, by an effective counter-offensive, it has been able to hold the left flank of the German armies attacking the Crimea, where also small progress appears to have been made. The conclusion, which Reuter's special correspondent in Moscow draws, to the effect that the situation has considerably improved in the southern sector of the front seems in the circumstances to be fully justified, but it will be as well to remember that many days of severe fighting will have to ensue before it will be possible to estimate exactly what the Germans have been able to achieve by this the fifth great onslaught since the commencement bf the invasion. What is clear is that the Russian resistance during the past sixteen weeks hás completely upset German plans. "There are indications that they had hoped to complete at least the major part of the campaign before winter, and the haste with which they are now trying to mobilize heavy clothing on a vast scale shows that there has been a serious miscalculation.
In that connection the Russian troops will Moubtless be fully equipped for fighting in the knows. With vast stocks of winter clothing and equipment suitable for meeting changed conditions which the winter will bring, together with their native ability to endure low temperatures, it may be readily understood that they will be in a position considerably to harass the Germans, who will suffer every inconvenience owing to the length of the lines of their communications and the necessity for fighting guerrilla warfare for which the Russians are peculiarly adapted. In fine the anxieties which were felt during the past few weeks regarding the situation in Russia have not yet entirely passed away, but there is now certainly less reason for pessimism than there was following the fall of Kiev. The enormous resources which the Russians possess in man-power permit of the rapid reformation of their worsted armies, and it is apparent that they have been availed of to re-establish the forces in the south. More hard knocks are still to be expected before the winter blizzards set in but it does not appear at all likely that the Germans will be able to secure a decisive victory from this latest offensive.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.