EASTERN FRONT

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1943, Page 5

EASTERN FRONT

SECOND ANNIVERSARY

Of German Attack ' CAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.} ! LONDON, June 21. ] Reuter’s Moscow correspondent | says that Russia is swinging into the third year of war with u a lull on the front and a big push behind the' lines. In addition "to huge massing of troops and ammunition, there is a farming drive to keep the Red Army] and civilians “fighting fed,” also a fuel plan to keep the factories pouring out munitions. There is a big drive for more food, and peat for fuel in homes and factories. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have been drafted into wood cutting. Stalin and the Russian people face to-morrow the anniversary of the German attack with a full sense of the heavy struggle still ahead. Soviet newspapers again warn against under-estimaiting the enemy’s strength, but there is underlying confidence which is heightened by the realisation of Britain’s and America’s military] power.

Losses in Russia

SOVIET'S ANNOUNCEMENT. (Rec. 7.15.) LONDON, June 22 On the second anniversary of the German attack on Russia, the East- \ ern Front runs roughly from the extreme north front to Leningrad, then to Lynchkov on Lake Ilmen, -thence to Kholm and then to Velikye Luke. From there, the front trims back and runs eastwards to a point live miles east of Dorogobuj, then to Shisdra ■and south-eastwards until it reaches • Orel. From Orel, the front runs south and west to S'evsk, and then recedes eastwards until it reaches Lgov, then runs through Byelgorod, Kharkov, Isy(um and Slavyanskaya. The line further south still runs west of Rostov, penetrates the western Kuban, touching Yeisk and Krimskaya. The Soviet Information Bureau on the anniversary gives the following: figures of losses. Germans killed or prisoners: Six million four hundred, thousand; Russians, killed or missing i four million two hundred thousand; German material destroyed: 56,30(1* guns, 42,400 tanks, 43,000 aircraft;/ Russian material losses: 35,000 guns, 30,000 tanks, and 23,000 aircraft. At Moscow an announcement was issued, giving figures as to German and Russian, losses in the past two years of: war. It stated: Soviet guerrillas operating throughout enemy occupied territory killed three thousand Germans, derailed three thousand trains; set fire to 895 fuel and ammunition dumps; wrecked 3263 railroad bridges; and destroyed hundreds of tanks, planes, and guns. The Soviet announcement claimed; Losses inflicted on the Germans fundamentally shattered the German army’s might, and definitely crippled German capacity for waging war.

Quick Second Front

SOVIET’S URGENT PLEA.

(Rec 8.0.) LONDON, June 22. In its Moscow announcement at the commencement of a third year of war in Russia, the Soviet stated: “The Soviet’s political and military position is stronger than ever, whereas the enemy’s position has deteriorated. Anglo-Soviet relations have improved, and Hitlerite attempts to split the British-American-Russian coalition have failed. “Nevertheless, the Soviet people and Army do not under-estimate the seriousness of the struggle ahead. The balance of forces has changed in favour of Russia and the Allies; but this is not enough for victory. Everything now depends how the Allies use their present favourable situation for a second front in Europe. Without this victory will be impossible. The absence of a second front in Europe saved Nazi Germany from a defeat in 1942. The Hitlerites used this breathing space for a new and large-scale offensive against the Soviet last Summer and in the Autumn of 1942. T'o let existing favourable conditions for opening a second front in Europe in 1943 slip by—to be late in this matter —would seriously harm our common cause, entailing the prolongation of the war, and a colossal increase of sacrifice. On the contrary, the opening of a second front in Europe this year will speed victory and save many victims.