March On Russia

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXX, Issue 9638, 23 June 1941, Page 2

March On Russia

GERMANY DECLARES WAR

SUPIORT OF FINNS IN EUMKIAKS ITALIANS JOIN BATTLE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST SOVIET LONDON, June 22. Hitler to-day issued a proclamation announcing that Germany had attacked Russia, with the support of tiie Finns in the north and the Rumanians in the south. A Rome broadcast this afternoon states that Italy lias declared war on Russia and that hostilities will commence at 3.30 this afternoon. The Moscow radio says Germans this morning bombed Kiev, Sebastopol and Kauas, the capital of Lithuania. Two hundred persons were killed. . VGoebbels read Hitler’s proclama- 'K* lion at 5.4 5 a.m. bitterly condemning the Russian occupation of the Baltic States (Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania) as directed against Germany, and accusing Russia and Britain of working for the same ends. Hitler said: “Russia organised the putsch in Yugoslavia. This was not done from platonic motives, but still I was silent. Moscow demanded the mobilisation of the Serbs. I have therefore to-day decided to put the fate and future of the German Reich and people into the hands of our soldiers. May God help us in this battle.” Goebbels announced: “One hundred and sixty Russian divisions threaten our frontier. Russia wanted to occupy Bulgaria, the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus. Russia lias betrayed the German-Russian Pact. ’ “At this moment the greatest march in history is taking place. German troops, with Finnish divisions and the conquerors of Norway, under the officer commajiding in Norway are marching together from East Prussia to the Carpathians. Along the Danube delta and the shores of the Black Sea German and r Rumanian soldiers are united. Our , task is not to protect single countries, . but to save Europe.” A number of towns on the RussoRumanian frontier have been evacu- . ated and Rumania lias called up , ' fresh classes of soldiers. The wire- . less all day broadcast stirring military tunes. t HELP FROM BRITAIN 1 , SOVIET AMBASSADOR TALKS WITH MR EDEN ’ VIEWS HELD OVERSEAS ; LONDON, June 22. The Russian Ambassador in Lons don, M. Maisky, this morning saw * the British Foreign Minister, Mr Anothony Eden, and had a long talk. s Mr Churchill made a speech later defining the British viewpoint and j stated that whatever help was posj sibie would be given to the Russians , in their fight against Germany, j The Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotoff, in a broadcast from Moscow, said: “I am requested by M. Stalin to tell you that Germany, at 1 a in. to-day, attacked our country, without warning, at many places.” <

M. Molutcff said that more than SOO people had already been killed or wounded in German raids on Russian towns. Aircraft were being operated and artillery fired from Finnish and Rumanian territory. The Foreign Minister said the Soviet Governmnt had ordered the attack to he repulsed. It was an attack forced on Russia not by the people of Germany, but by it rulers. American and other sources believe that Germany’s declaration of war on Russia shows the effectiveness of the British blockade as the result of which Germany lias been forced to turn elsewhere for supplies, and is desirous of obtaining the vast wheat resources of the Ukraine and the oil supplies of Iran and Irak.

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies, states that he considers that Germany’s latest move lessens the chance of a Japanese attack on Australia.

The Japanese Cabinet is meeting to discuss the new situation. An Australian weekly commentator stated last evening that if the Red Army in any way approached the nigh standard of efficiency and morale that had been claimed for it during Die last few years the clasii between Germany and Russia would be of great Help to Britain, especially if full use were made of the breath-ing-spell that would be afforded. Germany lias mined the Polar Sea and the Baltic and the Black Seas.