Russia and the Second Front Soviet General In Critical Vein

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 210, 4 September 1943, Page 5

Russia and the Second Front

Soviet General In Critical Vein

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Friday, 8.25 p.ra. LONDON, Sept. 3. The Russians repeatedly proposed to the Allies that they send troops and air units to light alongside the lied Army on the Russian iront, but the Allies uever showed that they were willing, rliis statement was made by MajorGeneral Galaktionov, a military expert, when writing in the influential Russian fortnightly review, “War and the Working Classes.” General Galaktionov says: “Nobody in the Soviet LJnion was against British and American air forces lighting on our front, but they never have done so except for limited participation at Murmansk in the autumn of 1941. Despite repeated proposals from the Soviet, the Allies never expressed a desire to keep their troops alongside our army and air force on the Russian-German front. A proposal was made last autumn to station Allied forces at Baku and Tiflis, where no front existed and where no battles could be fought against the Germans. Isn’t it clear that it would be better to station them nearer the front where they would be in a position to help our troops? Also, could a proposal to transfer Soviet troops from across the Caucasus to the Russian-German front so that non-Soviet troops could be brought into this area be regarded as a desire to light alongside the Red Army?” Commenting on the view that Russia’s Western allies have already started a second and third fronts with Sicily and the air offensive, General Galaktionov states that Russia did not consider Sicily a second front. ‘ ‘ These operations did not draw off a single German division from the Eastern Front and did not hinder Hitler considerably increasing the number of divisions on the Eastern Front,” Galaktionov continues. ** Bombing operations in Europe are not replacing the second i'runt concerning which the obli ... ions of our allies are still awaiting fulfilment. The people are judging by facts, namely, the extent to which promises are actually being carried out.” Referring to the American commentator who, it was stated, favours a prolonged war of exhaustion, General Galaktionov says: * 1 This is too reminiscent of tho philosophy of those who saw nothing bad in this gigantic conflict in which not only Germany but. also the Soviet is becoming exhausted.” Another article in the same issue saysr “It is necessary that the blow against the German military machine from the East should be supported by a serious blow from the West. The Red Army is carrying out its tasks with •onour. ‘if the war is not to drag out, the armies of our Western allies must urgently carry out their tasks and obligations.” The review also criticises the Allies’ new civil administration in Sicily, staging that Italian anti-Faseists are still held prisoner in Italy while Fascists at Palermo are free to hold on to their jobs.” Uneasiness was caused among democrats in Allied countries by reports that a similar civil administration designed on a grand European sqale will take control of the liberated os well as Axis countries. (The British United Press points out that reports that such a system will operate in liberated countries has been denied). The review also alleges that Turkey is conducting a policy of benevolent neutrality towards Germany and by securing tho safety of Germany's‘Balkan flank, is delaying the final denouement of the war against Germany. Public opinion in Russia is closely watching Turkish foreign policy.