AID FOR SOVIET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 5

AID FOR SOVIET

LAND OFFENSIVE BY BRITISH. URGED BY MANY RUSSIANS. GERMANS ADMIT SURPRISES. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Roc. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 3. Many Russians think that Britain should launch a land offensive in the West to draw some of the German armoured divisions from the Soviet fronv. Reporting this “The Times” 'Moscow correspondent adds that the Russians feel that even if at a. heavy cost sueu a move would be well worth while. Mr J. L. Garvin (editor of “The Observer”) says: “We have taken off our hats to the marvellous resistance oy the Soviet armies. Wei should now take off our coats. It is an. opportunity that will not return. The military correspondent ot lne Express’ states that despite the carnage the German military machine is still first-class even with the panzer strategy smashed it might pull something out of the bag. The Berlin radio 'spokesman now hints that the size and efficiency of the Soviet arms industry are greater than anyone outside the Kremlin had dreamed. The quality of the Russian troops and the spirit of the Russian guerillas is also staggering the German leaders, they say. The Berlin correspondent of the Swiss newspaper “La Uisse” says that German officials are now talking of a war of attrition instead of a war of annihilation. They also admit that the Russians’ preparations are on a more extensive scale than was realised and their reserves of men and material far exceed the forecasts.

Finnish newspapers report that a groat British fleet is in the Arctic Ocean, co-operating with the Russianarmies in the north. The Gorman communique (loos: not mention the battle for Kiev, which new place names in the Soviet communiques' indicate is proceeding.