The Guardian. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1941. THE RUSSO-GERMAN WAR

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 74, 16 September 1941, Page 3

The Guardian.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1941. THE RUSSO-GERMAN WAR

Printed at Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand, on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

The news that a wing of the Royal Air Force — a self-con- > tamed unit — has reached Rus- . sia to help the Russian Air Force to beat back the German invader, indicates a new development in the R.A.F.'s wideflung activities and is a visible token of Great Britain's determination to send all help possible to the Soviet forces. Official announcements, had already mentioned that hundreds of fighter machines had been sent to Russia to increase the air force there. After three months of desperate fighting the German army in Russia is far -^rdm its immediate objectives— JLeningrad, Moscow and Keiv, while Odessa is still holding up the invader's advance along the Black Sea coast. History does not record any greater fighting in point of numbers engaged, the area of territory fought over, the prodigal use oi scientific instruments of war, the heavy losses sustained by both sides, than what is now taking place in Russia. Russian soldiers are fighting back grimly but heroically, making the Germans pay dear■:Jy for every mile of ground gained. They are not only sacrificing their lives for their country, but they are giving their Allies a wonderful respite in which to complete their preparations, while the mauling

which the Russians are inflicting upon the Germans will have a material effect in the final overthrow of Nazism. Both Great Britain and the^ United States of America have undertaken to supply Russia with the war materials required; at present it is more equipment than men that are needed, while in the R.A.F. raids in Germany, in the naval activities in the White Sea, Great Britain is giving valuable indirect aid to Russia. Now, with a wing of the R.A.F. in the war zone, Britain's help will be more direct and effective. To move vast masses of materials and men require careful planning and organisation, much preparation in advance of the actual supply trains and convoys, is a slow process at the best of times arid doubly so under the complex war conditions existing at present.

Discussing Hitler's aims in Russia, a British commentator wrote: "It is certainly not fanciful to suggest that Hitler, when he decided in, favour of the overthrow of the Bolshevik regime, was influenced by the degree of compliance which, the Vichy Government had shown toward Germany. Admiral Darlan's diligent pursuit of a policy of 'collaboration with our conquerors' had proved that the military overthrow of a country need not necessarily preclude far-reaching co-opera-tion with a regime born of defeat. To think of Hitler's invasion of Russia in terms of the elimination of the Red Army and Air Force, plus the acquisition of oil and wheat, is vastly to under-estimate the scope of Germany's ambitions. The Germans undoubtedly look forward to the day when a Russian Government, i; > both antidemocratic and anti-Commun-ist, will perform for the Reich in the East of Europe services, diplomatic and military as well as economic, comparable to those which Vichy is already rendering in the West of Europe, in the Near East, and in Africa. Such a Government would assist the Reich in putting pressure upon Turkey; it would threaten • British interests in Iran and interfere in the affairs of India; instead of assisting China against Japan, it v/ould hold out to Japan" the bait of collaboration against China."