BEHIND SCHEDULE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 July 1941, Page 5

BEHIND SCHEDULE

SLOW NAZI ADVANCE.

SOVIET'S SOLID DEFENCE. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 a.m.) RUGBY, July 17.

While the mention for the first lime in a, Soviet communique of fighting in the Smolensk region indicates some German advance in tin's sector, there is no evidence that the German troops have yet caught up with the gains claimed in Hitler's special communique issued last week-end.

The magnificent and determined resistance which the Red Army and the Soviet people are puting up against the hard-striking invaders fills the British people with admiration for their latest Allies and confidence in their fighting ability.

That the situation h full of danger is realised, but it is also clear that the German hopes are by no means being fulfilled. Two days ago the military spokesman in Rerlin stated that unless something went wrong Nazi troops would occupy Leningrad within 24 hours. More than IS hours have elapsed, but there is still no indication that tho former Russian capital contains any people other than legitimate citizens.

Something must have "gone, wrong" from the Nazi viewpoint and it would appear to !>e that tho Gorman thrust in this direction was vigorously dealt with by the Russian Command—a clear indication that the Nazi claims to have exhausted the Russian reserves were at least premature. Again, the week-end claims placed the Nazi troops immediately in front of Kiev, also on the open road to Moscow following the "penetration of the Stalin Line at all important points." So far as is known Kiev is still ir. Russian hands and the most advanced German troops are at least 2UO miles from Moscow.

COURAGE UNIMPAIRED. All the reports received here speak of the high morale both of tho Russian fitihting forces and the civilian population. The Luftwaffe has by no means obtained mastery of the air, and the Russian air force is only too anxious t" bring the German pilots to battle. Soviet workers, both farm and factory, arc taking their parts in the struggle, and the Russian railways aro functioning well. The great "battle block." which is about 200 miles wide, is certainly still moving eastwards, but not at any great speed, and within that block the rival forces are locked in struggle. Nothing decisive has yet taken place, and from the Nazi point of view, considerinc the mass of men and materials they aro employing, probabb' nothing even substantial has occurred.

Typical of the British view of the whole situation is that given by the Daily Telegraph in an editorial. It says: "The loss of cities and territory, though tne suffering will be cruel, will not defeat Russia. So long as her armies hold together and keep the fields ami factories, and the transport system to furnish them with munitions, she is invincible. We have our part to play by making* such havoc of the industries and communications of Germany that the Rcichswehr and Luftwaffe cannot maintain their strength."—Official Wireless.

NAZISM AND FASCISM.

SIR RONALD CROSS'S VIEW. SYDNEY, July 17

Sir Ronald Cross, the now British High Commissioner to Australia, has already incurred the displeasure of the Minister of the Navy (Mr W. M. Hughes) as the result of an interview ho allegedly gave to the Daily Telegraph yesterday after his arrival. Sir Ronald was reported to have stated that the Russian system was hated throughout the length and breadth of England. Only a tiny minority thought it better than a dictatorship.

! Mr Hughes's answer to-day -was: "Russia is our Ally, and those who hate her are certainly no friends of ; Britain. I commend Mr Churchill's ! speech to Sir Ronald Cross and remind him that Communism does not enter i into our present relations -with the i Soviet, neither does Russia's alliance (with Britain commit Russia to the nceop'ance of the ideology of Democracy." <....i]imenting on Mr Hughes's reference to Sir Ron-aid Cross, the Prime .Minister to-night said Mr Hughes ex- j pressed his own and not the Common-j -wealth Government's views. "Sir Ron-' aid is a highly-qualified man, fresh j from Britain." added Mr Menzies. : :"lf he is not at liberty to make a statement respecting what ho believes. to be the opinion in Britain in regard j to Communism, then I mistake the functions of the High Commissioner-! ship." | iSir Ronald Cross, when questioned: :in regard to his interview, said tho newspaper in question had taken the' (quotation out of its context and thus did not convey his real meaning. He j agreed entirely with Mr Churchill's; observations about Russia made the I day after her break with Germany. When asked whether he made the : statement that it was only a matter j of-opinion whether Nazism or Com-; munism was the Worse, Sir Ronald re- i plied: "Surely nobody here will wish! to argue about that—or will they?"