The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun. FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1943. THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1943, Page 2

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun. FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1943. THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

I'HE Russians estimate that Hitler has in their country about 200 German divisions, which figure may be compared with four German divisions which were in Libya and three or four in Sicily. Such comparisons are necessary if Ave are to keep a sense of proportion, and to appreciate the magnitude of the current achievements of the Soviet armies. According to a German report, the Russians have launched another attack against them, in the region of Starava Russa. Several such reports., made first by the Germans, have later been confirmed by the Russians, and this'report may also be true. If'so it is an indication of the strength and confidence with which the Soviet Army is pursuing its summer offensive. The three great bastions of the German line are Kharkov, Bryansk and Smolensk, and the Russians are attacking all three. If they are able, simultaneously Avith these great operations, to spread the offensive by launching another attack in the north, it will be a revelation of their strength that, not for the first time in this war, will surprise their friends and dismay their enemies. The Germans are already dismayed, and after their loss of Orel and Byelgorod, were complaining of Russian superiority in armaments, and of the Russians' "satanic inventive genius." There seems every reason to expect that the Germans will soon have further and graver reasons for-complaints of this kind. While the Russians have won great victories, and will win more, it is important to realise that they are still far from driving the Germans from their country, their victories are costly and the strain on the Soviet economy in the third year of Avar is severe. These factors alone are sufficient to account for the reneAved demands, in Russian quarters, for the opening of a "second front." Such demands, although they do less than justice to the achievements of the Allied air forces in Germany, are probably more justified now than at any time in the past. The Russians no doubt feel that if German land forces Avere poAverfully engaged in the Avest, the Red Army might be enabled to Avin complete victory in Russia before the Avinter, and rid the country of the invader. Without that, they must look forward, and perhaps Avith considerable anxiety, to another Avinter campaign in their own country. All these considerations Avill be taken fully into account at Quebec. What the Allies there represented intend to do it is useless to speculate, but there is a uni\ r ersal expectation and strong confidence that operations are being prepared which will be far greater than any so far, and will leave the Russians no room for doubt about their Allies' desire to relieve them.