STALINGRAD AND VERDUN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 263, 6 October 1942, Page 5

STALINGRAD AND VERDUN

NEW YORK, Oct. 5. The New York Herald-Tribune’s Moscow correspondent says the Soviet Army paper Red Star publishes an article by its special correspondent, M. M. R. Galaxtionov, which is worthy of considerable study since it reflects a viewpoint increasingly apparent here, in which exception is taken to foreign press comparisons between Stalingrad and Verdun. The writer points out: (1) That Verdun was a system ot modern forts, whereas the Stalingrad sector has no defensive advantages, although German propaganda is trying to make it appear a powerful fortified zone. (2) Against Verdun Germany never used more than 15 divisions at one time, while 60 have been used at Stalingrad. Further, the Germans are suffering incomparably heavier losses at Stalingrad. lor example, the total German losses at Verdun were 300,000, while the ratio of losses at Stalingrad is several times greater. It is specifically stated that the Germans are losing 3000 officers and soldiers daily in one sector alone northwest of Stalingrad. , (3) At Verdun planes and tanks wereonil, while in the present battle thousands of both are employed daily. All told. Verdun was far behind in so far as the intensity of the fighting is concerned. Moreover, the writer points out that the strategic value ot Verdun was relatively unimportant while the fate.of the entire world depends on the result at Stalingrad.