NEWS OF THE WEEK
THE dominant mood regarding the war as September closes is of satisfaction at what the Allies are achieving combined with considerable perplexity at what they are not achieving. In the east the Russian armies sweep on irresistibly. The capture of Kremen- chug almost completes their hold on the Upper and Middle Dnieper, but the seizure of a large island close to the west bank near Kiev may prove to be more important still. The Germans in the Crimea are plainly threatened, and some hundreds of miles farther north Minsk, the capital of White Russia, has begun to enter the picture. In Italy the capture of Foggia by the Eighth Army may prove to be of supreme importance, for its airfields bring all the Balkans, Rumania, Hungary, Austria and much of Germany within the range of our heavy bombers. Farther. west the fall of Naples is immediately imminent, and the advance on Rome will no doubt continue with all speed. The moral, political and strategic importance of the capital is great, but there may be heavy engagements to face before it is reached. With consistently successful action here is contrasted persistent and inexplicable inaction farther east. Why, with a powerful and unopposed fleet available, the Allied commanders allow the Germans to seize strategically important islands at will ; why, when the Yugoslav forces hold for days or weeks an important • Lretch of the Dalmatian coast with at least one serviceable port, the Allied commanders make no attempt, so far as is known, to send them effective assistance, are mysteries which are causing un- deniable disquiet. Methodical preparations are no doubt needed ; but. there has been abundant time for them, and once more the Lapacity to seize a situation and exploit it seems surprisingly enough to be a quality in which the enemy is markedly superior.
