SECOND FRONT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 227, 26 September 1942, Page 5

SECOND FRONT

PERSISTENT APPEALS BY RUSSIA BRITAIN’S OPPORTUNITY HITLER’S TRUMP CARD (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Reed 8.35 p.m.) London, Sept. 24. The Russians are persistently putting out appeals for a second front. i The Soviet War News, which is a daily press sheet issued from the | Soviet Embassy, says: “The Battle ot | Britain showed that air blows would not force the enemy to capitulate. Britain is» now fully armed. The R.A.F. rules the skies and the Navy is stronger than at the outbreak of the war. Britain has an opportunity to beliver a blow against the enemy.” Ilya Ehrenburg, in an article in the Soviet War News, says: “France is ready to burst its 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 for the zero hour and is striking.” Moscow radio says: “All the world can see that fifteen months after outbreak of the Russo-German war the Nazis are still pursuing their strategy undisturbed and without having to worry about the west. Hitler’s trump card has been 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 and Rochdale, New York and Baltimore.” SOVIEf~DfsSATISFIED FAILURE TO LAUNCH SECOND FRONT MORE CRITICISM OF ALLIES New York, Sept. 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 Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. Mr. Willkie has talked with the highest officials and the humblest workers. All expressed apprecjition of Britain and America, but it is apparent that only a second front will satisfy Russia. Without it the Soviet will feel terribly let down. Mr. Willkie said nothing after seeing Mr. Stalin to allay the impression that he also had found disappointment at the Kremlin. More outright criticism of Britain and America is heard in Moscow. Mr. Willkie and his companions confess that they were surprised to discover the depth of feeling everywhere. The Russians now openly teli British and Americans in Moscow that the Soviet is shouldering the whole burden of the war. The correspondent adds: “It may be a very cold winter in Moscow—and I don’t mean that it will be the weather alone which will be frigid.” FOUR VITAL FRONTS MUST NOT BE NEGLECTED FOR EUROPEAN OPINION OF MR. NASH New York, Sept. 23. The New Zealand Minister to Washington, Mr. Walter Nash, addressing the C. 1.0. convention of shipbuilding workers, gave a comprehensive picture of New Zealand’s war effort. Mr, Nash arrived amid a heated debate on a resolution urging an immediate second front. Questioned subsequently, Mr. Nash said that a second front in Europe to relieve Russia at the earliest possible moment was necessary and desirable, but should not be taken without adequate preparation and reasonable hope of success. “The Allies,” he added, “are already fighting on four vital fronts, none of which can be let down. It would be disastrous if half a million men were driven out of Europe in similar fashion to Dunkirk, which would prolong the war 20 years.” Regarding India, Mr. Nash said he favoured immediate granting of dominion status, provided the Indian people guaranteed full support for the war against the Axis and permitted the British and Americans to direct military operations in the India area. BRINGING NAZIS TO THEIR KNEES CEASELESS FOUNDING OF INDUSTRIES (Recd. 8.30 p.m.) London, Sept. 24. Foreign observers have become increasingly convinced that the continual pounding from the air of German industrial centres during the winter will force the Germans to their knees in much shorter time than is usually believed in Allied circles. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent “somewhere in Europe” says that observers declare that the raids directly affected at least ten million Germans. The evacuation of refugees is becoming a problem, threatening to defeat even the thorough German administration. Two thousand women and children were forced to spend two days in the train in which they travelled to a refugee town before lodgings could be found for them. One ot the authorities’ greatest difficulties is where to send the evacuees now that the Russians are attacking East Germany, which was formerly considered safe. Thousands of Alsatians with “doubtful - ’ views are being deported to Germany in order to make room for refugees. Uneasiness has so increased after the raids against Frankfurt and Munich that seveiai divisions of picked guards were recalled from the east front to reinforce the police in bombed areas. Berlin radio stated that Dr. Ley, as Vice-Commissioner of Private Dwellings, visited many parts of Germany, including Hamburg and Bremen, where “the housing is especially distressing owing’to war conditions.” 9