The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1942 WHAT OF RUSSIA'S PARATROOPS?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 86, 3 August 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1942 WHAT OF RUSSIA'S PARATROOPS?

THE news over the week-end of masses of German paratroops dropped on the Kerch Peninsula, brings very forcibly to mind the fact that Russia herself first conceived and later perfected the idea of dropping specialised infantry from the air. What has happened to the tens of thousands of Soviet air-borne infantrymen, who were in training* long before Goering seized' the copyright ? To-day Stalin must be holding in reserve a mass of picked and highly trained men who can only be described as the flower of Russian manhood. These troops wherever they arc will be flung into the battle only when the most favourable opportunity presents itself We have heard nothing of any

scale attack by Russia's atr-borne troops as yet, and this fact alone speaks well for the deep strategy of the Soviet in the conduct of its desperate struggle. It means that the Russian High Command in spite of the growing German pressure, has kept its head cooly maintaining the struggle in spite o-f tremendous reverses, and has decided not to depart from its original strategy of drawing the enemy in.' Designed only for work behind an advancing enemy, parachute troops can be dropped in a matter of minutes upon a given sector and can wreak unlimited destruction and disorganisation in most unexpected quarters. The Soviet the patentees, are still holding this powerful fighting arm in reserve. It would be reasonable to assume that it will be utilised at just such time as it suits the Russian strategists to do so. Watch for the; Soviet paratroops!

LESS BOBBY CALVES

THE bobby calf yield can always be regarded as a fairly certain barometer of the rise or fall of the dairying industry. With this in mind it is interesting to note that the collection of calves this season up to the end of July was only (according to Bobby-Calf Pool figures) 2615 against 3484 for the same period last year. The difference is a little, matter of 869. Further investigation shows that the drop was roughly 200 less on the Whakatane side of the Riangitaiki River and 600 on the west. The explanation may lay in the undue lateness of the calving- dates in many herds, or else a genuine falling off in dairying under the strain of war conditions August however will reveal the. true facts as it is recognised as the peak, month in bobby calf collection. In past years from 7000 to 8000 have been taken off the Plains regularly in August and this year's figures will afford a genuine guage as to whether the industry is slip-

ping or not

AN OLD FRIEND APPEALS

FROM the growing volume of war, civil and domestic appeals, comes once again the voice of the 'lepper man,' Mr P. J. Twomey, of Christchurch, whose championing of the cause of Makogi lepers, has won him a renoun which is unique in the Dominion. Mr Twomey is once more making his Christmas appeal for presents, donations, clothing and: equipment. In the past he has been nobly assisted by women's organisations throughout this district and we have no fear that in spite of the war these same organisations will once again find time to give a thought to Makcgi's isolated sufferers. Gifts which will be appreciated are dress materials, silks, cottons, sand shoes, games, recreational articles, tobacco, pipes, fishing lines, sweets, soap, children's books. All articles or donations may be sent to 172 Bealey Avenue:, Christchurch CI.

WATCH YOUR BICYCLES!

WTR the introduction of rationing for bicycle tyres in furthering the conservation of rubber stocks, and which came into force last Saturday the general public is cautioned to take the greatest care of even this simple: methodi of travel. During the last world war when Germany was completely cut off from the world's rubber supplies a bicycle was produced with a series of steel springs as makeshift tyres. It is likely to be our turn this time unless the synthetic article can race the conclusion of the war and the normal stabilisation of the industry.