RUSSIAN VICTORIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 9 February 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN VICTORIES

STUPENDOUS PRICE PAID TEN MILLION DEAD SO FAR London, Feb. 8. Maurice Hindus, noted author and correspondent, writing in the New York “Herald-Tribune” after a seven-months’ tour of Russia, says that the Soviet is paying a stupendous price for its victories. “It is safe to assert that at least 4,000,000 Russians have already lost their lives, but this is a smaller part of the casualties, for the Russians have suffered a far greater number of deaths in German-held territories. Estimates of Russian dead in conquered territory run to between 10,000,000 and 15,000,000, but even accepting the estimate of 6,000,000 as near truth, it means that at least 10.000,000 have died since the outbreak. “Happy as the Russians are over their successes they are acutely aware that they are fighting on Russian soil and Russian towns, villages and cities are being devastated. Russia is a land of widows, of whom there are millions. There are also many millions of orphans and prisoners of war. The Russians feel their losses too deeply to derive consolation from the world’s plaudits to which the Russian Press gives little space. “The people are making tremendous sacrifices. Shops are practically empty and it is impossible to buy shoes and clothes. Food is more than rigidly rationed. Fresh vegetables are very rare, but the best of everything goes to the soldiers who are among the bestclad and best-fed in the world.”—P A