RAIN AND SNOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 7

RAIN AND SNOW

ONSET*OF WINTER ROADS DETERIORATE GERMANS' PRESSING TASK LONDON, Oct. -22 The main news from the Russian front appears to be that the weather is becoming worse. Rain is falling in the south and in the central sector, and it is reported that the roads have broken up. Commentators are of the opinion that it is therefore not surprising that little advance by the Germans is reported, although stubborn fighting is still continuing. Instead of comfortable winter quarters in Moscow, von Bock's armies are faced with the prospect of fighting a continual war of movement to keep warm in the countryside over which the snow is gradually thickening. The Russians, realistically as ever, admit the gravity of the situation on the Moscow and Ukraine fronts, but this very realism encourages confidence when the admissions of dangers from German pressure are accompanied by continuing evidence of forceful and tenacious resistance, and even- effective counterblows. Germans Obviously Tired The Stockholm correspondent of the Times says the fact that Marshal Timoshenko has forced the Germans to take breath and is able to strike back during tins Gorman pause is" a great achievement. The Germans are obviously tired, but are too much awake to risk a long pause while Marshal Timoshenko simultaneously regains strength. The most pressing German task before the real winter descends remains, as the Germans have many times explained, to destroy the Red Army as an organised and coherent force, and the main strength of.this army is holding at bay the main strength ot the German armies, baulked before Moscow. Therefore the invaders are feverishly Preparing for a supreme assault. Soviet Morale High A correspondent cabling from Kuibyshev (Samara), describes the scene behind the line- following the new German threat-, He says: "With Stalin's Government continuing to hold the fort at the Kremlin. Russia is relentlessly pursuing the fight against Germany. There is unmistakable evidence ot the Soviet df-tormination to carsy on the struggle come what may. The morale is high, food supplies are adequate, and a constant shuttle of military reserves westward and civilians eastward goes °» as every preparation is made for a prolonged war. Tin- vast and virtually trackless hinterland is already in the S'i|) of winter, streams have begun to freeze and snow is coating the plains. J'he railways 1 unction regularly, although slower under the greatly increased traffic, carrying thousands upon thousands, oi troop- and huge quantities oi equipment." DYNAMITE PLOT SPY TRIAL ADMISSION I (Reed. fi,i4 pm : XEW YORK. Oct. 22 A' statement that lie na> offered iO.OOO dollars last June to dynamite President Roosevelt's church at Hyde Park was made by " Frederick Jubert Duquesne at a trial of 15 alleged epies to-dav.