CLIMAX OF WAR

Southland Times, Issue 24681, 28 February 1942, Page 5

CLIMAX OF WAR

HITLER’S FINAL EFFORT SPRING OFFENSIVE AGAINST RUSSIA (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 26. M. Litvinov, the Soviet Ambassador to Washington, FieldMarshal Sir John Dill and Mr Leon Henderson addressed the Overseas Ppess Club. M. Litvinov said: The united nations can knock Hitler out this summer by simultaneous offensive actions on two fronts. He added that the spring offensive against Russia would be the decisive “make or break effort” of the Axis and the Allies should act accordingly. He explained that this did not mean that the Allies should concentrate their forces on the Russian front, but Russia desired, legitimately, that the forces which were not used at present should not be kept in idleness and inaction. “The anti-Hitler struggle will reach its peak this spring, and then all the Allied forces should be put into action,” M. Litvinov declared. “There must not be idle armies, immobile navies or air forces, because this spring will decide the fate of the Axis. I think there will not be more fronts outside Europe along which decisive battles and offensive actions will be possible—at

least not for a long time, until the considerable forces of the United States can be matured.” Sir John Dill praised the Russians, who were rising supreme over trials and anguish. He pleaded for mutual confidence and emphasized the upsurge of the British spirit, which he maintained explained the growth of the Commonwealth throughout the centuries “Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and India are fighting on the land, the sea and in the air in defence of their common heritage. India, alone, has contributed over 1,000,000 fighting volunteers,” Sir John Dill concluded that the united nations were fighting for liberty against slavery, for the right to speak and worship. There would be an endless age of darkness and tyranny if the Allies failed. They would, therefore, not accept any alternative but full victory. Mr Henderson said: None of our Allies nor any Axis Power has ever diverted such a percentage of total production to war as the United States is planning to divert in the next two years. War production in America will cost £50,000,000,000 in 1942, £75,000,000,000 in 1943, which means the living standard will soon fall below the lowest point of the great depression. SUPREME GERMAN EFFORT A London message states that according to the diplomatic correspondent of The Times, Germany is engaged in a drive for man-power on a grand scale. It extends from the highest to the lowest. Nine million women are already working in German industry, says the correspondent. Dr Mansfeld, the new Controller of Labour, plans to increase the number of foreign workers to 5,000.000. particularly from Russia. He has already ordered all the metallurgical workers in Kiev between the ages of 17 and 50 years to register for employment in Germany. Theoretically German production reached its peak in 1941, but facts, adds The Times, have a way of defeating theories. The Germans have been over-strained for nine years and there is proof of this in the growth of disease in Germany.

Russia has taken out much of Germany’s spirit and lack of rubber, oil, textiles and leather is evident. But Hitler has now put the Germans to the greatest test and hopes with the Reichswehr to turn the scale.