THE WASTAGE OF WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25429, 10 January 1944, Page 2

THE WASTAGE OF WAR

The statement by General Dietmar, the German commentator, in a broadcast address of unusual frankness, that the casualties of Germany’s enemies are absolutely and relatively far greater than Germany’s own casualties may be accepted as literally true. It was with particular reference to the Russian losses that the statement was made. No reliable information is available concerning the extent of these losses. Russ-a does not admit the world into her confidence respecting the wastage of her fighting forces. Neither does Germany. Official reports from Moscow upon the operations of the Russian Army frequently include estimates of the German losses. They are necessarily speculative, and it may be supposed that they are generally exaggerative. The Russians have, however, never afforded any authoritative information about the measure of their own casualties. They must be prodigious. A hint of their extent was contained a few days ago ih a message from a correspondent of a world-wide agency, who stated that up to June last—six months ago—the Russian casualties totalled 4,000,000. “Now they may total another 500,000,” the correspondent wrote, “ and between 2000 and 3000 are being added to' that figure every 24 hours.” This estimate implies that a terrible toll has been, and is being, taken of Russian life. Obviously offensive operations that are being carried on with the intensity of those that are now being conducted by General Vatutin, who is cold-bloodedly said by a French radio commentator to be “ incessantly throwing more fuel into the furnace,” and by the other Russian military leaders, are very costly in

the sacrifice of the Russian soldiery. In these losses is provided a plain explanation of Marshal Stalin’s appeal for the diversionary operations for which grim preparations are now being made. But the German losses, though they may be both absolutely and relatively smaller than those suffered by Russia, must be impairing materially her ability to maintain the conflict. For her inferiority in the air and at sea is demonstrable, and her land armies, though still unquestionably formidable, must have suffered the loss of the cream of their most experienced units, and they are now in imminent danger of an encirclement that must spell ultimate disaster for her.