Any German invasion of the Crimea will be an extremely difficult operation. This will not deter the Nazis from making the attempt, if they find that their advances in other directions are blocked, but it may explain why they appear to have deflected their main forces in the Ukraine into an attack upon the Kharkov region, in the hopes of smashing the industrial centre round the Donetz basin. It has been reported that the Germans have. prepared on a vast scale for an invasion of the Crimea from sea, land and air. So far their attacks have been by land, on the Perekop peninsula, and on a small scale through parachute troops landed behind the Russian defence lines. parachutists are reported to have been dealt with faithfully by the Russians, and, indeed, it would be surprising if they were not, since the tactic of using parachutists was first ex-plaited ona large scale by the Russians and Was, developed by them io a high mitch of perfection. It can be readily understood that their counter-measures against attacks by these troops are also highly efficient. In this sort of defence, the Russians long ago passed the experimental stage. Somzewhat puzzling have been recent radio reports that there.have been battles in the Black Sea, with the Soviet Fleet sinking several enemy warships which were apparently storting troops and supplies from Bulgarian or Rumanian ports to the front line areas. These troops may, of course, have stined. for the reinforcement of the Nazis in the south Ukraine and not be with their plans in the Crimea. It however, the Nazi of sending trai refection they have ji e Soviet Black Sea fleet is neither large nor modern, but its supremacy in those waters is unchallenged. Neither the Germans nor the Italians have been able to get warship through the Bosph spite of strony to bear on Turkey. It would appear that the Nazis have had, therefore, to rely upon the Bulgarian and Rumi the latter, since the Bulgari mitted themselves so posal The Rumanian fleet, so far as is known, consists of four destroyers, one submarine, six torpedo-boats, half of which are of pre-1014 design, and four motor gunboats. The Bulgarian fleet, it it has been used, consists of only four unarmed torpedo-boats. It is possible that the Nazis have managed to transport a few submarines by way of the Danube and to reas. semble them in Black Sea ports. But even so, it is dificult to see where they are going to get sufficient naval protection for an invasion ty sea. They will have fo rely upon protection from the air. This protection can only be effective if the Germans have definite air superiority in the Black Sea region. They must be strong enough there to sweep the Soviet air force out of the sky. This they are not, if the frequent Soviet raids upon Black Sea ports now under Nazi domination are anything to go by. If the Russians can bomb Rumanian oil fields and ports where there are concentrations of with comparative impunity, then the Germans What have become known as "invasion barges" must be a long way from: having the air superiority which they will need before they can attempt to cross the 200 miles of dangerous water which lies between the western shores of the s and the Crimea, without suffering the most staggering losses.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.