Stalin on Importance Of Second Front

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 151, 28 June 1943, Page 5

Stalin on Importance Of Second Front

Received Sunday, 9 p.m.

LONDON, June 27.

Mr. Stalin, in his reply to President Roosevelt and Generals Giraud and de Gaulle, broadcast over the Moscow radio thanking them for their message of congratulation to the Red Army on its two years’ struggle. He emphasised the importance he placed on the second front.

To President Roosevelt he said: “As a result oP the Soviet Union’s two years’ struggle and the serious blows the Allies have inflicted on the Italian and German armies in North Africa, the conditions have been created for the final defeat of our common enemy. I have no doubt victory will come—the sooner we strike our joint blows against the enemy from east and west. 7 »

To Generals Giraud and de Gaulle he said: “The Russians are confident that the Allies’ joint effort will terminate in cojnplete and final victory ' ’ President Kalinin, in a similar message to Dr. Benes (President of Czechoslokakia) brought out the same point. “I share your full confidence that the United Nations’ joint active efforts will lead to victory.”

The Moscow radio, quoting the Russian journalist, Mr. Yaroslavsky, said Russian tank production had increased 38 per cent, since last year. Hundreds of factories were working behind the ’ines turnin'* out ever rr rovrin rr ties of arms and equipment. Russian rail and river transport since the outbreak of the war had successfully coped with the transfer of millions of people and vital industries to the eastern areas of Russia. New railway lines and canals have bren built to facilitate the

gigantic traffic of troops and arms to the front.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the United States Ambassador, Admiral Standiey, paid tribute to Russian, British and American cooperation and expressed the opinion that cooperation had reached its maximum effort. “It must not cease with the defeat of Germany, it must be continued until the defeat of Japan and must be maintained after the war.”