THE BEAR STRIKES BACK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 162, 1 October 1941, Page 4

THE BEAR STRIKES BACK

RUSSIA I*3 astonishing: the world by her magnificent defence against the hitherto irresistible 'panza/ divisions of the Nazi military machine. Like a northern Gibraltar the fortress of Leningrad stands bravely against the storm of destruction, the tides of war sweeping about her and) breaking against the ring of steel which comprises her outer defences. The Russian Bear of the early years of the Great War, is awake again and is striking back in a manner which is little short of remarkable. The first force of the invasion thrust has been further penetration has been checked and now as the Germans commence to 'dig in' come the heartening tales of counter offensives and spirited bayonet charges. There are other tales too, brought home to us by members of the R.A.F. now assisting in sweeping the divebombers from the skies. These tell of the high morale and the efficiency of the Russian rank and file, of the mod,ern equipment, and of the initiative and energy of the Soviet engineers. Surprising to many of Us, who for the past decade have learnt little or nothing or the land regarded as the home of Communism! To-day however popular demand clamours for that information and we are getting it fast and 'front page.' Russia is standing well up to the test and every day that her resistance can be maintained brings victory closer to the Allied arms. While the collision of the two vast armies is in progress other distractions are occurring to perplex the mind of the man who hatched Nazism. Rumblings of the unrest of civilian populations held in bondage under the German yoke have reached, the world in the tales of widespread sabotage, of shootings, of hostages, of 'accidents' to railway transport, of martial law, of states of 'seige', and finally of the intensification of the work of the dreaded Gestapo. History will record the events of the Russian campaign and the momentous features of the next few weeks will be hajided down to posterity as pivoting on the dogged defence which has been put up by the citizen soldiers of the Soviet.