REPORTS OF FRICTION

Evening Star, Issue 24297, 11 September 1942, Page 3

REPORTS OF FRICTION

MR CHURCHILL AND M. STALIN THE SECOND FRONT ISSUE NEW YORK, Sept. 9.. The Washington the 1 New York Times ’ says: ‘‘ Officials do not comment on reports from Moscow of a disagreement between Mr Churchill and M. Stalin over the conduct of the war, but well-informed circles consider it is significant that the Russian censor passed Press despatches describing the bitterness arising from the popular belief in Moscow that aid from the United Nations, cannot be expected soon.” The correspondent adds: “This possibly is another form of Russian pressure for a second front this year, but there is no indication here whether Allied military action in Europe within the next few weeks would dissipate Russian apprehensions. It is understood that Mr Churchill during his visit to Moscow hoped to ease M. Stalin’s mind, particularly over the operations of supply lines for Russia, but it has not been revealed whether Mr Churchill satisfied him.” NORTH-WEST SECTOR ENEMY STILL IN PRECARIOUS POSITION LONDON, September 9. The Moscow correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says: “It is a sign of von Bock’s respect for tho Red army that ho did not previously attack from the west. Until he bad embarrassed tho Russians north and south of the present line of attack he would not risk running into a sack, because a bear’s hug of tho type felt before Moscow is something to avoid in the future. The Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the Germans northwest of Stalingrad are probably still in a precarious 'position. The latest German reports stated that they were in grave danger during the week-end. Mobile units had struck rapidly from the Don towards the Volga, but Russian armoured units closed in, after which the German spearhead was attacked from all sides. /Eventually a convoy smashed through . with hndlyneeded ammunition for the encircled force. The battle in the Mosdok area is now being fought out on a large scale on both sides of the Terek River, where hundreds of tributaries thread the wooded foothills. The Germans have established a second bridgehead op the south bank of the Terek River, but this is hemmed in like tho first bridgehead. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says the Red air force went into action as the :Gorraans attempted to move on from the south hank of the Terek'River to encircle the town. Russian bombs caused a landslide, blocking a valley in which 25 tanks and 250 lorries wore wrecked and 500 soldiers killed. The Germans retreated into a forest, which the Russians set on fire, driving the Germans into tho open, where they were again attacked. Another German force attempted a quick thrust along tho north bank of the Terek River, hnt the Red air force shattered the column. LEADERS CLOSER TOGETHER MR HARROW'S IMPRESSIONS NEW YORK, Sept. 9. “ The Moscow talks have brought Mr Churchill and M. Stalin closer together in their burning haired of Hitler and Hitlerism which is transcending their former political differences,” said Mr Averell Harriman, when speaking at a Russian war relief meeting. “ The Russians not only want a second front in Europe as early as possible, but they also hope tho United States will keep the Japanese occupied ,in the Pacific, thus preventing an attack in Siberia.” He had found tho Russian people determined to fight on alone if a second front did not come, Mr Harriman added. The Russians had made plans to continue tho war even if they lost tho present phase. They had moved vast industries behind the Urals, and had opened there new mines, oil wells, and farm lands.