FULL AID DELAYED

Evening Star, Issue 24002, 29 September 1941, Page 7

FULL AID DELAYED

RUSSIA'S LACK OF FRANKNESS ANGLO-AMERICAN COMPLAINT NEW YORK, Sept. 27. Full-scale American aid to Russia is delayed because of the difficulty in obtaining from Moscow full details of the Soviet’s position, says the Washington correspondent of the ‘ New York Times.' Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill insist on this information as a prerequisite for the proper supplying of Russia’s needs. The United States and Britain have refused thus far to release most of the secret defence weapons to Russia. British and American observers are permitted to visit only isolated parts of the Russian front. There is no sign whatever that Stalin is weakening in his determination to fight Germany to the finish, but he appears to bo reluctant to put all his eggs in the BritishAmerican basket. MR CHURCHILL TO SPEAK FULL STATEMENT ON RUSSIA CONSIDERABLE SCALE BF BRITISH HELP INBICATED (British Official Wireleis.) (Rec. 9.52 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 28. When Parliament shortly reassembles Mr Churchill is expected to make a full statement on the Russian situation at the first sitting and to indicate what competent observers in London believe will be the very considerable scale upon which Britain has been already supplying Russia with materials and commodities. RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUES 18 NAZI INFANTRY COMPANIES WIPEO OUT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sopt. 28. A Soviet overnight war communique states: “On September 27 our troops fought the enemy along the entire front. On September 25 we destroyed 4T enemy planes and we lost 19 planes.” A Moscow supplementary communique announces that during seven days’ fighting on one sector in the western direction of tho front, Comrade Lushkevick’s unit forced the enemy to abandon fortified positions, wiped out 18 infantry companies, and destroyed 18 tanks. 14 ammunntion lorries, and 10 trench mortar batteries. Two thousand three hundred Gorman corpses were left on tho battlefield. On one sector in the north-western direction of tho front the Russians killed 580 eiiemy officers and men and _ put out of action and captured considerable war material.

The Leningrad radio, reporting the latest news about the fighting for the city, says: “The enemy tried to penetrate our lines on the Finnish side of the defences, but was stopped by fire from close range. Fighting raged for two days, at the end of which the Finns had lost 600 killed and a great quantity of equipment. Colonel Bondarev’s unit, in co-operation with artillery, lulled at least 2,000 Germans. It pierced the enemy’s lines, pursued the retreating forces, and rcoccupied several villages. A determined effort by picked Gorman troops to break through at Staraya Russa was checked.”

The Stockholm correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says that the Russians repulsed a large-scale attack at Oranienburg. The Germans now admit that Schlisselburg is in Russian hands, but say that German and Finnish troops are steadily approaching it. The Finns claim to have taken Kandalaksha. thus cutting the Russian line to Murmansk.

SOVIET SUBMARINES REMOVED FROM KRONSTADT LONDON, Sept. 28. It is revealed that the Russians have removed between 60 and 70 submarines from Krondstada via the Volga-Moscow canal, to the Caspian Sea, whence they are going to the Black Sea by river canal. The remarines from Krondstadt via the the canals. FACTORY TO FRONT ODESSA ASSEMBLING TANKS LONDON, Sept. 28. The Tass Agency reports that the defence of Odessa is proceeding courageously, vigorously, and determinedly* Tanks and armoured vehicles are being assembled at unprecedented speed and arc immediately rushed from the factories to the front line.

FINE FIGHTING SPIRIT RUSSIAN MORALE NIGH BRITISH PILOTS IMPRESSED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. The crow of an R.A.F. Coastal Command aircraft which had been to Moscow came back vastly impressed by the morale, efficiency, and fine lighting spirit of the Russians, says the Air Ministry news service. Coastal Command aircraft have made a number of (lights to Russia, and l this was the first crew to travel right into Moscow itself. One of them said: “ When we appeared in Moscow in our uniforms they simply gave us the city. I never imagined such a welcome anywhere. We went wherever we pleased, and nobody allowed us to spend money on anything. \Vo had only to say we wanted anything. and it was promptly given to ns. ■‘The warmth of the welcome would have been embarrassing,” he said, “ except that they made us feel that it was genuine and spontaneous. Wc knew it was the R.A.F. uniform they were welcoming. not ourselves as individuals.” The airmen saw practically no bomb

damage in Moscow, and they cannot speak too highly of the good spirits and morale of the citizens. “ STOUT FELLOWS.” ” Russian pilots are stout fellows and things have Been made very comfortable for us,” says an R.A.F. pilot in a letter to his brother. “ I have not yet flown Russian planes, but they certainly look useful. Russian flak is very acurate, and German planes in this area are rather shy. Observer posts says the Germans often turn back when our fighters are seen. “The Russian commander is most helpful and friendly. Russian pilots invited us to dinner, and we toasted everything imaginable. Then in conformity with an old) Russian custom for senior officers to do a step dance, the Russian general and our commander made an attempt which seemed to gain general approval,” RUSSIA'S ARMIES NO SHORTAGE OF RESERVES LONDON, September 28. Mr Ralph lugereoll, who has arrived at Cairo, said that well-informed quarters m Moscow declare that the Germans have suffered 1,000,000 casualties. Throughout the journey from Moscow lie saw no signs of refugee panic. Thu food situation in Russia was good. The soldiers’ equipment was sufficient, and there were no apparent signs of air-raid damage in Moscow, which is surrounded by a 30-milc belt of anti-aircraft defences. Tho Russian transport was excellent, and masses of reserves could bo seen on every uand According to M. Lozovsky. cVef of the Soviet Information Bureau, the Germans’ desperate efforts to capture the Crimea have been repulsed, and the fighting is still outside the Crimea proper.

RAF. IN RUSSIA UTILE NEWS REACHING LJfJDOH (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. The first detailed description of the fighting side by side of British and Soviet pilots in Russia is printed in the ‘ Red Star ’ under the sub-title “ Soviet and English pilots are jointly routing the Fascists.” The article describes British and Soviet flyers studying maps in deep trenches, and adds: “ The British Hurricanes are tho pride of British aviation.” Little news has reached London from tho wing of the R.A.F. serving with the Red Air Force on the eastern front apart from the fact that for the loss of one machine they have already destroyed nine enemy aircraft.

MOSCOW YOUTH MEETING ENCOURAGING MESSAGE FROM BRITAIN (British Official Wireless,l RUGBY, September 27. A. number of messages of greetings, encouragement, and respect has been sent to Moscow from Britain to synchronise with a mass youth meeting which is being held there on Sunday. Tho messages have been sent from a young member of Parliament, from representatives of art, tho stage, films industry, labour, students, the Church, civil servants, decorated civil defence workers, Scouts, Guides, and others. APPEAL FOB COMMON FRONT (Rec. 11,55 a.ra.) RUGBY, Sept. 28. _ Russian soldiers, members of the air force, sailors, and nurses attended the youth gathering in Moscow. The speakers included representatives from Yugoslav guerrillas. A resolution appealed to youth throughout the world to form a common front against Fascism. It added: " We know that the war will lie long and fierce. Hitler must and will be destroyed.”-