POSITION SHOWS IMPROVEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 24859, 26 September 1942, Page 5

POSITION SHOWS IMPROVEMENT

“Military Miracle” (Rec. 8.45 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24 The position in the north-western suburbs of Stalingrad has unproved out of recognition during the past two days, reports The Dailv Express correspondent in Moscow, who adds that it is something approaching a acle, which the whole world should acknowledge with the deepest gratiThe Germans had driven a very dangerous wedge into the north-west-ern suburbs, but much of it has now been hammered out. Meanwhile, the Russians are edging southwards int the German corridor between the Don and the Volga north of StahngradL No changes are reported in other suburbs of the Stalingrad perimeter. Developments during the past tew days, however, do not mean that the battle for Stalingrad has yet been decided. The Germans are still hammering away and are still bringing up reinforcements from seemingly limbless reserves, as they demonstrated in their massive attacks today by 200 tanks in one small sector. The Stockholm correspondent oi lhe Times reports that Voronej, Rjev and Sinyaveno are still centres of unrelaxed heavy fighting. The Leningrad garrison has apparently made substantial headway in the past few days in its attempt to link up with the mam Russian army. Latest German reports mention the Neva river crossings and hits on Russian lorries east of it. inis implies that the Russians have established bridgeheads across the Neva. SECOND_FRONT RUSSIA’S PERSISTENT APPEALS (Rec. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. The Russians are persistently putting out appeals for a second front. The Soviet War News, which is a daily press sheet issued from the Soviet Embassy, says the Battle of Britain showed that air blows would not force the enemy to capitulate. “Britain is now fully armed,” it says. “The Royal Air Force rules the skies and the Navy is stronger than at the outbreak of the war. Britain has an opportunity to deliver a blow against the enemy.” Ilya Ehrenburg, in an article in Soviet War News, says: “France is ready to burst her banks like a river in spring. The French do not want to bide their time for a favourable opportunity. With or without ships and without allies, France can no longer wait the zero hour and is striking.” Moscow radio says: “All the world can see that 15 months after the outbreak of the Russo-German war the Nazis are still pursuing their strategy undisturbed without having to worry about the west. Hitler’s trump card has been his ability to deal with , his enemies one by one. The card must be knocked from his hand. The Battle of Stalingrad is also the battle for Burnley, Rochdale, New York and Baltimore.” RUSSIANS DISPLEASED Second Front Awaited NEW YORK, September 24. Mr Wendell Willkie will return to the United States with a story of growing Russian disappointment and dissatisfaction over the failure of Britain and America to establish a second front, says the Associated Press of America Moscow correspondent. Mr Willkie said nothing after seeing high officials and very humble workers. All have expressed appreciation of the part played by Britain and America, but it is apparent that only a second front will satisfy Russia. Without it she will feel terribly let down. Mr Willkie said nothing after seeing M. Stalin to allay the impression that he had also found disappointment there. More outright criticism of Britain and America is heard in Moscow and Mr Willkie and his companions have confessed that they have been surprised to discover the depth of feeling everywhere. Tiie Russians now openly tell British and Americans in Moscow that they are shouldering the whole burden of the war. The correspondent adds: “it may be a very cold winter in Moscow and I do not mean that the weather will be frigid.” CONVOY’S JOURNEY Enemy’s Heavy Air Losses (Rec. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. Rear-Admiral E. K. Boddam-Whet-ham, commodore of the British, American and Russian Ships which recently arrived in North Russia, estimates that British fighters and anti-aircraft batteries destroyed between 50 and 60 enemy torpedo-carriers, says the Moscow correspondent of The Times. The Germans lost so heavily in the early stages of the eight-day battle that the violence of the attack diminished. The convoy was never scattered. Tor-pedo-carrying planes 50 strong attacked several times daily. Dive-bombing and machine-gunning by low-lying planes riddled the ships’ bridges. There were simultaneously shoals of German submarines about, many surfacing 10 miles away. Russian destroyers and Hurricanes came out to meet the convoy as it neared port.