Russians Admit Western Allies Delay Germans

Northern Advocate, 29 June 1943, Page 3

Russians Admit Western Allies Delay Germans

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. The Russians are freely admitting that the threat of a second front has profoundly affected the German High Command’s plans in Russia, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The Russians believe that the Germans are adopting delaying tactics in order to gain time to complete so-called total mobilisation of military and labour resources in Occupied Europe. The correspondent adds that the Russians are watching development in Hungary with special interest. They consider that Hungary is playing a tortuous game—unwilling to break with Hitler but anxious to give the future victors the impression that she is no longer interested in Germany’s quarrels. The Russians consider that largely as a result of repercussions at home after the defeat of the second Hungarian Army, at Voronel last winter, the Hungarian Government, even if it so wanted would not be capable of ordering further divisions to the east front. The correspondent continues mat the Russians have also noted strained It-alo-German relations, especially Hitler's refusal to send German troops to South Italy, despite Mussolini’s request. A natural conclusion is that there will be no fresh Italian troops for the east front, in 1943. The Russians are also considering defects appearing in German industry.

Professor Varga, Russian economist, stated that 15,000,000 of Germany’s best industrial workers have been withdrawn for the armed forces and it is known that coal production in Germany has declined at least 15 per cent. Moreover, Germany is suffering a growing rail transport crisis because of the huge distances to the east front. Local Fighting Increases The Germans are fighting desperately to recapture a town on the Kalinin front, from where they were driven on June 25. Moscow says that the Germans launched six counter-attacks yesterday, but all failed. Berlin radio stated that increased local fighting on the eastern front, while fluctuating in intensity, had not yet reached major strategical importance, and added that fighting in Veliki Luki had died down after several days of fierce encounters. “Repeated enemy attacks obviously do not go beyond an intention to improve Russian positions in isolated sectors.”

Berlin radio also said that the Russians are moving big forces to the southern sector of the front. Moscow radio today declared that Germany has nearly 3,000,000 men massed along the front. The radio warned that big-scale fighting may begin at any moment. Moscow radio’s estimate is 155,000 more men than Mr. Churchill recently estimated. According to Moscow radio guerillas in the past two years have killed 300,000 invaders. Russia’s Part In Future

The United States Ambassador to Russia (Mr Davies), addressing a “Tribute to Russia” meeting in New York, said: “The aim of this generation is not only to win the war but also to outlaw war. To effect this, it is clear that agreement between the great nations of the earth is required. There can be no certain victory without Russia. There can be no post-war adjustment and no postwar peace that will be effective with Russia outside it.” A Soviet communique says that a total of 211 German planes were shot down last week for the loss of 74 Russian aircraft. Soviet airmen yesterday sank an enemy submarine in the Black Sea. There have been local activities in various sectors — mainly reconnaissance. On one sector of the Kalinin front a Soviet detachment recently occupied an inhabited locality. The enemy unsuccessfully counter-attack-ed six times in one day, but were forced back, losing about 400 officers and men. The Red Air Force, without loss, itself bombed the railway junction and aerodromes at Orel and other places on Saturday night.