RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 31 December 1941, Page 5

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

HARDER FIGHTING In the South and Centre; I Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.j (Rec. 11.50.) LONDON. Dec. 30. According to Berlin, tne heaviest of the Russian attacks are those in the Ukraine -toward Kharkov. There a S.S. Viking Division, composed of Danes,. Germans, ■ Finns, Flemish, Norwegian and Dutch volunteers and also Italians and Slovak formations, backed by Germans are repoijted to have borne the brunt of the fighting. Germans make no mention of the fact that the Viking Division was planned to consist entirely of .Norwegians, but when only a few Quisling driblets volunteered, it' was augmented by similar driblets from other occupied Nordic countries. These still were no.t sufficient to make up anything approaching the full division, which tnerefore was completed by Germans. A resumption of a Russian advance in this sector was expected, and the few available details snow that Kharkov already is almost within hearing of artillery as a motley Axis army recoils backwards, although it still is doing so only slowly. Lack. of place-names leaves the position obscure in the northern end of the Moscow zone, but the whole central front is most active. The Germans are striving to extricate their frost-bound material from a battlefield where until the beginning of December, they launched innumerable heavy attacks against Moscow. LONDON. December 29. This morning’s communique from Moscow tells of fighting on all fronts last night and this morning.' An intensive propaganda campaign has been pegun to drive home io Russian fighting and industrial armies that now the Germans are on the run, they must be given no respite, in which to reorganise their forces. ' The Moscow “Red Star” says: “Time always was of the greatest value in the battle, but at present it assumes for us exceptionally great value. Each hour we delay our progress, each hour resnite given the enemy, is a gain for the enemy and a loss for us. The Red Army believes the Germans, because of heavy losses, are placing above every other consderation, the preservation of manpower, with which, on a new, favourable line/ they will be able to reorganise and re-establish their striking power. The German High Command calculates that technical equipment might be replaced, but reserves from which Losses of officers and men will be replaced, have already been heavily overtaxed. The Germans, because of reverses, now find it essential to tty and establish a static line, and to do that they must have time—a respite in which there is .no actual contact between the main armies. That explains why the Germans are feverishly moving back their troops, at the expense of enormous losses of equipment. Russian soldiers and workers are fold that the enemy attempt to reorganise must be prevent - I ed. Do not let them recuperate and heal their wounds —keep them moving,” urges the “Red Star.” “The enemy is leaving strong, rearguards, supported by heavv artillery force:*, to hold the Soviet troops and give the main armv a chance to escape. The Red Armv must not be held up by these forces, even if an advance means leaving them In the rear. Following Soviet forces will liquidate them.”

One of Moscow’s great industrial plants, which supplies the front witn arms and munitions, while another part of it recentlv removed proceeds with production in the rear of the armies, is described by a correspondent in Moscow. Its sllSpsTiaye' been producing automatic rifles, trench mortars, and shells since the outbreak of the war without interruption, in spite of air raids and the battle at the approaches of the capital. The Russian automatic rifle is claimed by the chief engineer to be better than the German counterpart. It weighs 6ilbs, and holds 71 bullets. The Germans tried to reduce the plant to ashes by dropping thousands of incendiarv bombs at night during the worst raids, but. the precautions were perfect, and the workers, who are splendidlv trained and unafraid, collected a whole arsenal of duds and bombs which were rendered harmless. Many women are working m this factory. A system of 25 hours’ work is followed bv 48 hours* rest. It was introduced because of frequent alerts. It will be replaced at tin' New Year by a regular eight-hour day.

One of the most effective nightraiding weapons is the Russian modern version of cavalry. A technique has been perfected, the keynote of which is secrecy and suddenness ot operations. These modern mounted troops are armed with the most modern weapons., including automatic rifles, anti-tank rifles, grenades and bottles of liauid combustibles. Kuibyshev radio declared that in the second battle for Moscow 120.000 German officers and men lost their lives. The appointment of six new lieu-tenant-generals and 27 major-gen-erals in the Russian Armv is announced. There is not the slightest indication that the Germans have vet been able to form a stable line anywhere or to take up a winter position which they can hope to hold for any time. The present Russian objective seems to be to clear the Mozhaisk and Malo Yaroslavets regions, west, and southwest of the capital, of all traces of the enemv. The Pressure here has been so heavv and so sustained that it is felt the Germans must withdraw from their positions, which are becoming untenable.

Russian Parachutists WORK GREAT HAVOC. CRec. 9 20). MOSCOW, Dec. 23. Moscow “Red Star’s” correspondent on the central front described the landing of Soviet parachutists in the rear of German forces. He said: “These parachutists, after descent, destroyed telegraph and telephonic communications between enemy units, blew up bridges, and blocked all roads of retreat. Enemy tanks, lorries, and armoured car?* seeking to bypass these wrecked i bridges floundered and became stuck in snow, whereupon parachutists who were hiding in woods annihilated German soldiers with automatic rifles, and also, set on Are and blew up lorries and tanks. Encountering a big column of German motorised units, escorted by German tanks and armoured cars, the Russian parachutists allowed some units to pass, after which they attacked the centre and rear of the convoy with incendiary bullets. This was in darkness... The Germans could not make cut the attackers, and each end of the column opened fire on the other. These parachutists in nine days blew up twenty-nine bridges; burned out forty-eight lorries, two tanks, and two staff cars, destroyed a, great quantity of

ammunition, and wiped out four hundred Germans, after which they rejoined the advancing Red Army.” Soviet War Taxes ON PEOPLE OVER 18. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 11.45.) LONDON, Dec. 30 ; The radio at Kuibyshev, the Soviet headquarters, stated that the Soviet has imposed a special war taxiranging of from 6 2-3 per cent, to 111 per cent, on the total income of . everybody over the age of eighteen years. Servicemen, their families, pensioners, and men over sixty and women over 55 are exempt. Citizens in the age groups that are liable for military service who have not yet been called up are to pay a tax of half as much again. The citizens of independent income are to pay double. The decree also provides a penalty of two per cent, daily for sUms unF paid at the due rates. MR EDEN’S RETURN. 8.0.W. RUGBY. December 29. ' Mr Eden is due to arrive in London within the next few hours, on his return from Moscow. The' conversations at Moscow af-, forded opportunities for discussionof all Questions relating to the con- ', duct of the war and in view of ,the immense contribution which has ■ been, and is being made, by Soviet Army. Navy, and Air Forced 1 the full importance of this is fully ' appreciated in informed circles ui London. A full report on his visit: ' will, no doubt, be made at the,, earliest moment to his Cabinet colleagues by Mr Eden, who will also probably take an early opportunitv of making' some pubic announcement on the subject of his visit. Accompanving Mr Eden is a party of Soviet Trade Union officials, headed’.;? by M. Shvernik. Secretary- to the Soviet Trade Unions, and Madame. Nikolayeva. Secretary of the All Union Central Council. " Mr Eden did not appear publicly, even at semi-official functions, his six. conferences with M. Stalin and M. Molotov culminating in Kremlin banquet, which lasted^until five a.m.. held in an unprecedented hush-hqsh atmosphere. Mr Eden Js - reported to have said he was deeply impressed bv Russian confidence, not of a careless brand. It was of a type shown bv men who are sure of themselves.

Increasing military collaboration will result from the discussions held in Moscow between the mission led by Mr Eden, and members of the Soviet Government. However, wellinformed circles believe there is no immediate prospect of an attempt to create a second European front. Probably a greater number of British technical experts will be used with the Russian armies, for it is realised that both sides have much technical knowledge to exchange. Britain will continue to supply war materials to Russia on the same scale as promised before the outbreak of the Pacific war. Beyond that, however, Britain cannot go. as Mr Eden frankly explained to M. Stalin, who thoroughly understood the situation.’

According to’ well-informed circles, apart from increased military cooperation, steps are likely to be taken to produce an instrument defining the terms on which Europe will be reconstructed after the war, on lines similar to the Atlantic Charter. Parties to the conversations believe that the United States will share with them the main burden of solving peace problems. The visiting Russian Trade Union delegation begins to-day a strenuous programme of conferences and visits to factories. The visit will last several weeks. MR. EDEN’S COMMENT. (Rec. 8.50). LONDON, December 29. Mr. A Eden (Foreign Secretary), with the other, members of the mission and fourteen Russian Trade Union delegates, have arrived in London. Mr. Eden said he was most satisfied with his visit, which undoubtedly would be very valuable. He said: “Our talks were full, frank and sincere. I was lucky to see the military performance of Russian armies, which was truly magnificent.”