THAW INTERFERES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21051, 24 March 1943, Page 3

THAW INTERFERES

AXIS PUSH HELD BENEFIT TO ALLIES GREAT ISSUES AT STALE (Ky Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (110.30 a.in.) LONDON, March Nl. With the thaw becoming: general along the whole front from the Kalian to Lake .Ilmen, operations on the Russinn front generally are slowing up, eveil on the bitterly contested Donetz line, though the Russians continue to report progress in the centre, notably southward of Byeloi. London observers are certain that the (Russian successes in recent months have heavily strained the enemy resources in men and materials. This is a great gain, not only for the Russians, but also for the British and American armies preparing to attack in the west. How much this potential advantage can be realised depends on the issue of the great battle raging between Kursk and the Donetz Basin. The Germans hope to push on and dislocate the Soviet strategy before the summer. The Russians, on the other hand, report that vast new reserves are being trained in the bitch areas, but the High Command has no intention of using them until the proper time.

The present struggle along the Donetz makes this a dangerous moment, of great consequence for the United Nations, but it is already evident that the Soviet, Command lias handled an unexpected and difficult situation with great skill and so far has withstood all German attempts to establish bridgeheads across the river. The magnitude of the issues at stake on the Russian front are directly related to the German man-power situation. According to trustworthy reports, the German military and civil authorities are said to be fully agreed that the eastern front must be drastically shortened to enable the army to resist successfully on all fronts.