SPRING OFFENSIVE IN RUSSIA

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 173, 18 April 1942, Page 8

SPRING OFFENSIVE IN RUSSIA

Germans Urged To Have Patience FACTOR OF WEATHER (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) . RUGBY, Aphil 16. Some idea of the earliest dates on which a spring offensive on the grand scale might he opened by the Germans in Russia is given in authoritative circles in London. Normally, on the central front the weather is dry enough for large-scale operations by the middle of May. This year such a situation may occur a little earlier. On the southern front, on'the other hand, the terrain may not be lit for a major attack till later than ti e usual l>eriod —the middle of the present month. On the Murmansk front the equivalent period would not arrive till the end of May.

"The Germans are being urged to have patience and confidence it) their military leaders,” says the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Nya Dagligt Aliehanda.” "Though it has been supposed that the German spring offensive will be launched in May or at the beginning of June, German newspapers now declare that it is impossible to say when the time will be ripe.” The Stockholm correspondent of "The Tinies” says that the Russian and German reports agree that no essential changes have taken place on the front since April 14. Value of Red Fleet. '

German newspapers emphasize that the Red Fleet still dominates the Black Sea. ■ The German Rear-Admiral Gadow, in a special article, points out that the Red Fleet is based on Sebastopol, Novorossisk, and Batum, and must 'be a serious factor in the next few months, because the Germans have insufficient naval force to dispute its sway. “Our allies and neutrals on the Black Sea,” he says, “have an interest in the liquidation of this Bolshevik danger, as once before, after the Crimean War, when the Russians’ sea pouter was destroyed. Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey will thereby regain their full freedom and security.” The Germans are still grumbling about the weather, and particularly about the night frosts, which are somewhat retarding the thaw on the northern half of the front, without, however, hardening the ground sufficiently to help traffic.

NO BIG OPERATIONS

Russian Report LONDON, April 17. A Moscow communique states that there were no large-scale operations yesterday. Moscow radio announces a new decree whereby all men between the ages of 1-1 and 55 and all women between 14 and 50 are liable for farm work, if not already engaged in war work or transport.

In the Briansk sector, according to a Kuibyshev report yesterday, a Soviet guards unit is holding the initiative, and no" fewer than 30 German counterattacks have been repulsed. The “Red Star” says that a German general originally brought into action three regiments which he later reinforced with others. These troops were annihilated company by company by Russian rifle and machinegun Are, and another six more German battalions, from SOO to 900 men strong were hurled in. The major part of these reinforcements has now been disposed if by the Red Army.

STRENGTH OF RUSSIA

Visitor’s Optimistic View NEW YORK, Apiil 16. Mr. Wallace Carroll, London manager of the United Press, who recently returned from Russia, addressing the annual meeting of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, said that Russia will 'be able, to withstand any German offensive this year. He expressed the opinion that the danger spot during the next six weeks will be in the Near East rather than in Russia.