GERMAN EFFORTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 111, 4 February 1943, Page 5

GERMAN EFFORTS

Expected To Be Yet More Stubborn (Received February 3, 7 p.m.) LONDON, February 2.

The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says that in view of the stiffened opposition from the enemy reinforcements, the Russian capture of Svatovo, cutting the railway above Lisichansk, is a notable success. The strain on the Kharkov network of railways must at present be very great, because there are plenty of indications that the Germans are transferring strength from the centre to the south for the defence of the vital regions. The Russians are regaining lateral communications, the lack of which on this front had heavily taxed their supply services. Now the winter is approaching its turning point, the Russians’ acquisition of railways, specially the VoronezhKamensk line, is most valuable, because the spring is more difficult for the supply services.

As the Russians increasingly threaten positions which have been held by the Germans since 1941 the Wehrmacht is expected to fight more stubbornly. There is no tendency iu Moscow to minimize the next tasks.

Reuters' Moscow correspondent, emphasizing the German stubbornness, says that the Russians always offer surrender terms to encircled troops, but they are usually refused. One group in a surrounding railway station endured a pounding by artillery for 18 hours before hoistiug the white flag. The prisoners have provided an indication of the magnitude of the “can-non-fodder” problem which is now confronting Hitler. One man stated that many Luftwaffe pilots arc commanding units of the First Infantry Division, because there are not enough planes for the Luftwaffe and uot enough officers for the infantry.