ON RUSSIAN FRONT

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 February 1942, Page 6

ON RUSSIAN FRONT

HITLER’S FAILURE.

NEW YORK, February 15.

“The Times’s” Stockholm correspondent says: “Hitler unexpectedly summoned Marshal von Brauchitisch to his headquarters. Well-informed German militarists comment . that Hitler, after two months of failures, realised his incapacity to lead the war against Russia, and therefore is asking Marshal von Brauchitsch to resume command. Informed quarters add that Hitler also seems to be emotionally exhausted by his failure against Russia. It was significant that he wept copiously at Dr. Todt’s funeral. SCHOOL FOR SNIPERS. LONDON, February 14. The title of “Hero of the Soviet Union” was posthumously awarded to Smolyachkov, a Red Army soldier, who was the instructor of a band of snipers. He started with ten pupils, until the group grew to a total of 300 crack shots, who accounted for 2000 Germans in three months. The leader died in action, but his school is continuing to train snipers. MOBILISATION OF LABOUR.

LONDON, February 14. President Kalinin has decreed the mobilisation for war production and building work of men between the ages of 16 and 55, and women from 16 to 45 who are not already in the war services or engaged in war work. The decree affects only the urban populations.

GERMANS KILL OWN WOUNDED

LONDON, February 15. A report from Geneva says that the Moscow radio states that German officers who fled from Germany declare that almost every German hospital for wounded has a gas chamber in which soldiers who have lost eyes and limbs are put to death. ANGLO-SOVIET UNION.

LONDON, February 14.. A national conference of the Eri-tish-Soviet Union was held in London to-day, when delegates representing every Anglo-Soviet Committee throughout the country were present. The Bishop of Chelmsford presided, and messages were read from Sir S. Cripps and M. Maisky (Soviet Ambassador).