FAITH IN VICTORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25214, 1 May 1943, Page 4

FAITH IN VICTORY

- <•!*» THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE DECISIVE BATTLES AHEAD (Rec. 7 p.in.J LONDON, Apl. 29. M. Yaroslavsky. a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in a broadcast over the Moscow radio, declared: “On the eve of May Day we know that heavy and decisive battles are ahead, and in the coming months, perhaps weeks, the fate of the whole world will be decided. Fifteen million men have perished in the colossal struggle being waged, and if those tortured to death in the occupied countries are considered the figure reaches enormous proportions. The world has never seen such slaughter, but in spite of the heavy losses of the Soviet Union we are facing May Day with complete faith in our strength to win. “ The Gemans,” he added. “ cannot strike such blows as previously. They lost 9000 tanks on the eastern front last winter. Their new offensive will be launched by an army which is no longer certain of victory- We to-day are not alone. We rejoice at every success of our allies. We are striving to uphold the British-American-Soviet alliance against the enemies of mankind."

Correspondents predict a flare-up in the fighting on the Russian front shortly. The Moscow radio announced that the Russians in raids the Germans are using a giant bomber nicknamed the “Air Battleship." The bomber is very heavily armed, and occupied the whole of one large workshop while being built. Moscow announces- that 116 enemy aircraft have been shot down in the Kuban area over the last two days. The Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that little action is reported from the front beyond local Russian raiding across the river-line between Rostov and Taganrog. Both sides in the Kuban area are preparing for a decisive clash, and are also massing dumps and regrouping for the struggles next month at other frontline key points. The Berlin radio stated that the Russians in the Kuban had resumed their attacks with forces from neighbouring sectors. This report has, however, not yet been confirmed from Moscow.