RECENT NEWS ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 June 1943, Page 6

RECENT NEWS ITEMS

ITo the Editor! Sir, —Two items of first-rate interest in view of the “Aid to Russia” controversy have recently appeared in your paper. I refer first of all to the one headed “Epics of Defeat” being an address on Empire Day by Air Vice-Marshal R. V. Goddard. May I just quote a few lines from the speech of this cultured gentleman who knows what he is talking about: "The sending of our army to France was typically British; disastrous, but by virtue of it having been done strategically a triumph. For it was Hitler’s plan that there should be a walk-over and no battle of France. Russia was to be next on the list after Poland —not France and Britain.” This concisely explodes the fallacy (spread by Hitler) that Russia was mobilising a large army on the German border with the intention of attacking Germany. The second news item is dated Lon. don, May 26, and gives the size of the opposing Russian and German armies as 4,000.000 each, and thus confirming Mr Churchill’s statement in Washington that Russia is holding 190 German and 13 other Axis divisions on her front. Now, sir, if we allow 200,000 or so for Rumania and Hungary and say, in all 4,200,000 men lacing Russia, I surely should not be called anti-Russian if I asked why, if Russia has 21,000,000 soldiers as stated by Mr Atmore, not counting several millions standing guard east of the Urals, she has not long ago beaten the Germans. Even if we allow 5,000,000 casualties, this should leave 16,000,000- Can Mr Atmore, who appears to know so much about Russia say why she called so loudly for a second front?—l am, etc., E. P. MAYNE. Tahunanui, 31st May.