RED ARMY DAY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 127, 24 February 1944, Page 5

RED ARMY DAY

Speech By Stalin

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) Received February 23, 11 p.m.) LONDON, February 22.. “The ncopde of Russia are ushering in tlic 26tli anniversary of the Bed Army in the midst of historic victories which the Red Armv lias won over the Germans, says 'Marshal Stalin in an order of the day addressed to the Red Army and Red Navy and also to the guerrillas. He adds: “The Red Army for move than a year has been conducting a victorious offensive, battering the armies or the Hitlerite invaders and sweeping them from Soviet soil. During this period the Red Army successfully completed the 1943 winter campaign, won the 1J43 summer campaign, and developed the victorious 1943-44 offensive.. “Durino- these campaigns, unequalled in the history of war, the* Red Army at some points advanced more than 1000 miles aud cleared the enemy from nearly three-quarters of the. Russian territory thev previously occupied.” The order goes on to detail the series of Red Army victories in the 1943-44. winter campaign culminating in the capture of Krivoi Rog. The order says the Red Army reconquered more than 10.000 inhabited localities, including 82 towns and 320 railway stations, and liberated millious of Russians from Fascist slavery.

“It must now be clear to everyone that Hitlerite Germany is moving relentlessly toward catastrophe,” the order declares.

“The couditions under which this war is being waged are more favourable to Germany than the last war, when throughout she fought on two fronts. Germany is greatly handicapped, on the other hand, by the fact that the Russia of this war is much stronger than the Tsarist Russia.

“History says that Germany won wars when she fought on one front and that she lost wars when forced to fight ou two fronts. Germany is at present fighting with her main forces, on the one front against Russia. She is nevertheless not only unable to win victory but is placed on the verge of catastrophe. If Russia, fighting single-handed, is able to withstand the German onslaught, the plight of Germany will be still more hopeless when the main forces of our Allies enter the fray and the powerful and ever-increasing offensive of the armies of all the United Nations are launched against her. Enemy Peace Efforts.

“The German brigands are tossing about in search of ways of salvation from disaster. Though their manpower reserves are exhausted they are again resorting to a total mobilization of everything.

“The Fascist rulers arc making desperate attempts to sow discord in the camp of the anti-Hitler campaign and thus protract the war. Hitler’s diplomats hurry from one neutral country to another trying to establish contacts with pro-Hitler elements and hinting at the possibility of separate peace with us or with our Allies. All these manoeuvres arc bound to fail. “The fundamental common interest of the anti-Hitlerite coalition results in the strengthening of the fighting alliance between Russia, Britain and America. The hour of final accounting for the atrocities committed against Russia has struck. Russia in future will increase her productive forces to speed up the smashing, blow against Germany. The Red Army will be further strengthened by the creation of new formations.

“The Hitlerites are at present resisting with the ferocity of the doomed, but the enemy will not jump into the abyss on his own. It is our task to drive him into the abyss. “To mark the victory achieved by the armed forces of Russia in the last year Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Gomel, and Rostov will on the night of February 23 salute the valiant Red Army with 20 artillery salvoes.” CONGRATULATIONS BY MR. CHURCHILL LONDON, February 23. On the occasion of the Red Army’s birthday, Mr. Churchill has sent the following message to Marshal Stalin :— “I send to you and all your troops this expression of my admiration. .“Inspired and guided by your leadership, and with their love of the soil of Russia, they will go forward to victory.”