AMERICAN AID

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23999, 24 June 1941, Page 7

AMERICAN AID

SPECULATION AROUSED WASHINGTON OPINION MOVE FAVOURS BRITAIN (Feed. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 22 Officials of the State Department to-day branded Germany as the aggressor, against Russia, thus arousing speculation about possible American aid—under the Lend-or Lease Act, or otherwise—to Russia. Diplomats envisage close economic co-operation between England, America and Russia. The Government has so far withheld any formal statement of its views, but officials described Germany's action as the most convincing proof that Hitler aims at i ho domination of the world.

Germany's move against Russia is viewed in Washington as tremendously favouring the British cause for the following reasons:— (]) It creates a second war front for Germany against a major foe. (2) Hitler's obvious desperation in the matter of food supplies proves the effectiveness of the British blockade. (3) It isolates .Japan. (4) It further delays an attempt to invade Britain. While none of the best military observers expects anything but early successes for the Germans, it is certain that M. Stalin must have had confidence of being able to withstand attack or he would not have rejected the German demands.

Hitler's decision to fight Russia, it is thought, is capped bv the belief that America will soon enter the war, hence his haste to acquire self-sufficiency.

A former United States Ambassador to Russia, Mr. Joseph Davies, says Russia will not be an easy conquest. The world will be surprised by the character of the Russian military resistance.

THE GERMAN ADVANCE

BOMBERS' SURPRISE ORDERS

DESTRUCTION OF AERODROME (fired. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. June 22

A war correspondent with the German forces says that squadrons of Junkers bombers had gathered at an advanced aerodrome which was built in a few days. The pilots did not know their assignment, until an hour before the take-off this morning, when they were told that their enemy was Russia, who had joined Britain. One squadron bombed the Ventspils aerodrome, destroying .TO aeroplanes on tho ground, and the aerodrome, which had no ground defence, was left useless. German light artillery and machinegun fire opened at .'To a.m., and the inlantry advanced past a frontier post on the Prussian border. The Russians were prevented from blowing up an important bridge, this correspondent says, and German troops were soon deep into Russian territory. There was little enemy fire.

A correspondent on the Finnish border says that the Russian fire was weaker alter the Germans had penetrated the frontiers. Then bombers arrived, assisting to break up the Russians' frontier posts, and prisoners were captured in a few minutes. The German news agency says the German attacks from Kast Prussia were undertaken without artillery preparation in order to surprise the Russians. The infantry awaited opportunities to break through the enemy's lines and pioneers succeeded in preventing the destruction of important bridges,

The Rumanians claim considerable advances into Bessarabia.