RED ARMY BLOWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 5

RED ARMY BLOWS

GERMAN PLANS UPSET M. STALIN CONFIDENT "IN BERLIN THIS YEAR" (Rec. II p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 26. More local successes as part of the larger Russian offensive are recorded in the mid-day Moscow communique. On the southern front a town described as K has been recaptured, Russian troops defeating the enemy and routing three German infantry battalions.

Four German planes were destroyed near Moscow yesterday, and on Sunday 20 were shot down in air battles, the Russians losing five. Since the Russian war began the Germans have lost 1 959 planes at the approaches to Moscow, this representing 12 per cent, of the attacking force. “ There is not likely to be any German offensive in Russia this year,” says the military correspondent of the Daily Express. “ Stalin does not intend that the Germans should ever regain the initiative. He is more likely to launch a spring offensive himself, and is confident that the Russians will be in Berlin before the end of this year. Many experts with inside knowledge of the facts support his belief. Increasing in strength every day, the Red Army’s attacks are now confidently believed to- have caused a vital change in the German war plans. Announcements of striking new Russian successes can be expected shortly. Within the next four weeks operations on a scale not yet attempted by the Russians will be launched. There are several reasons why Hitler in all probability cannot stage a comeback, in Russia. His casualties are already so vast that he is facing a grave shortage of effective man-power. Germany cannot make good the losses in equipment she is suffering and will continue to suffer in the disastrous war against the Soviet. By summer Germany will begin to fee] an oil shortage.” British press messages from Moscow and Stockholm foreshadow an announcement of further extensive Russian advances on the central sector, but the Soviet High Command for the present confines itself to reporting that “ active operations against the German Fascist troops continued during the night.”