British Aid Will be Effective

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 187, 8 August 1941, Page 5

British Aid Will be Effective

HOW HITLER HAS BEEN THWARTED IN RUSSIA (British Official Wireless.) - RUGBY, Aug. 6. An assurance that everything possible was being done by Britain to assist tne Soviet against Germany was given in the House of Commons to-day Oy the Lord Privy Beal,* Mr. C. A. Attlee. He showed how the German hopes of rapid advances into the heart of Russia had been disappointed. It was clear tnat tae plans of the Nazi High Command lor a rapid advance had not succeeded, he said, and he recalled that as long ago as July 13 they claimed that the •‘Stalin Line had been pierced at ail points and the roads to Moscow and Kiev were open.” In the far north, Murmansk .v.as sail in Russian hands, and, on the shores ox the Baltic, there had been no progress recently'. Fierce fighting had taken place in the Smolensk area, but the road to Moscow vias far from open. Kiev remained & bastion in the Russian defences, and the Soviet Air Force continued to play its great part. “I am sure that everybody in this country has been stirred by tnis splendid resistance to the invasion,’' Mr. Attlee said.

Britain, he added, was taking urgent steps to furnish Russia with the supplies for which she had asked, and no time had been lost in making contact by the Fleet at Kirkenes, in northern Norway, and at other northern places

Where physical contact with the Ruasians was possible. The bombing of Germany had inerpased and would increase as the nights lengthened. Mr. Attlee revealed tnat, during July alone, 70 attacks were made on German towns and < o on towns in occupied territory. ‘‘l don’t think there is any doubt as to the effect these attacks are having on German morale, communications and industry,” the Minister remarked.

In the Middle Last, 126 attacks had been made, during which 41U units of the enemy air fleet had been destroyed for certain for the loss of 285.

‘The House will not expect me to give any indications of the other steps we have taken to help our ally,” Mr. Attlee said, ‘‘but it may rest assured that, withiu the limits oi practicability, everything possible will be done. The essential leature of the aid we can give is not that it will be spectacular, out that it will be effective.”