Vast Soviet Forces Ready For Action When Word Given

Northern Advocate, 24 April 1944, Page 3

Vast Soviet Forces Ready For Action When Word Given

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 23. While the Red Army regroups the forces behind strategically important positions won during the winter campaigns, reinforcements and supplies from immense reserves in the interior ai'e pouring in along the whole front, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Vast forces apparently already have completed regrouping and are now ready for action whenever the word is given.

It is believed in Moscow that the present lull will not last long. Marshal Zhukov and General Guvorov are meeting German attacks in the Stanislawow and Narva areas without drawing on Russian strategic reserves. The German assaults, which obviously are intended to disrupt Russian preparations for the next forward leap, lack the power and volume of the Kiev counter-offensive last autumn. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says, almost for the first time since the outbreak of War, Moscow, newspapers are almost bare of war despatches, but observers agree that the Red Army is preparing fresh summer offensives, possibly on two or more points. Berlin radio stated that the Germans are using assault guns' and heavy artillery behind the central Russian front against partisans. The radio claimed over 2000 guerillas were killed and wounded on one sector last week. Tonight’s Soviet communique again states that no material changes have occurred today along the whole front. Quietest for 10 Months No material changes took place yesterday, states a Russian communique. Soviet forces on all fronts destroyed ti? tanks and 54 planes. An air communique reports that long-range bombers on Fiiday night attacked shale oil plants in Estonia. One bomber is missing'. Tiie British United- Press point out tha v this is the first Russian communique for 10 months which lias announced no me terial changes. The German News Agency's commentator (Hallensleben) says very strong and well-equipped units from Germany’s east ern reserves have been brought up to the Russian front. The German Command is fully prepared, not only in the west, but also in the east, where the Russians evidently are preparing a major offensive to coincide with the Allied invasion. The German Command describes the present lull on all fronts as the calm before the storm.

Massed German tanks have been trying for four days to punch a hole in Marshal Zhukov’s lines south-east of Stanislawow, but they are being met by a hail ol’ lire from Russian guns staggered in depth, says the Moscow correspondent of the United Press. The Germans have been trying to hold the northern corridor into Estonia by similar methods on a small scale, and arc being dealt with in the same fashion.

The Russians yesterday repulsed two German attempts to attack their positions south-west of Narva.

Vichy radio reports powerful Red Arm\ attacks in the Sebastopol area.