TRIBUTE TO RUSSIANS

Evening Star, Issue 24325, 14 October 1942, Page 3

TRIBUTE TO RUSSIANS

AMERICAN ON RJEV FRONT (Chicago 4 Daily News ’ Foreign Service, Copyright.) CHICAGO, October 13. (Rec. 10.50 a.m.) • Mr Lelaud Stowe, in a.despatch from tho Rjev front, says: “ At last I hayo seen and lived with the Red Army in several sectors and have the feel of these Russian soldiers and officers who have amazed the world. In the last nine days the Russian troops in Russia’s battle have become a vivid reality. We rode long and hard and bounced high 'and interminably to get to tho Rjev front. Those who rode and bounced with me were Liya Ehrenburg ’(the Soviet Union’s most famous war correspondent), Major Arapov, of the ‘ Red Star,’ and Captain Emma. Russian peasants gave us shelter and, with their magnificent hospitality v even their humble beds for tho night. For seven days in the front sectors I_ never saw a single male dressed in civilian clothes. Here such- villages as are not completely burned are inhabited only by women and children. The thunder of howitzers and mortars and the thud of bombs seldom cease for more than an hour or two day or night. Here, within tho rumble of artillery, there was also the peculiar calm of tho men who know how to command and- how to fight. We sec great orange fires burning night after night in the city of Rjev, and machineguns’ crackle punctuates the crisp midnight air. Camion fire and exploding mortars and rockets trace a flickering pattern for miles along the front.” Mr Stowe then describes a rough journey over shellholes through tho great wilderness and stretches, where hundreds of tanks and trucks gnashed and churned the earth. Captain Emma is chatting alt the while. She does not seem to pay any attention to the bombs, whereupon Mr Stowe says; “ The opinion of myself takes a sharp drop. Transport soldiers working near the road take no notice either. Like Captain Emma they have been living in this atmosphere a long time.” RUSSIANS HITTING BACK VMEMMUND FACTORIES TURNING OUT SUPPLIES LONDON, October 12. The Russians refuse to play Hitler’s game at Stalingrad. Instead of gratefully accepting the lull in the German ground attacks and resigning ' themselves to endure constant shelling and bombing, they are hitting back in many small sectors, bayonetting the Germans from houses and forcing the tired enemy to maintain a most active defence. It is not yet clear whether the Germans are using the lull for building up a new striking force before Stalingrad or diverting shock forces to the Caucasus. Berlin reports mention fighting in snowstorms, near the Black Sea .coasjt, which emphasises Hitler’s need for speed if he desires to force a passage in the Caucasian Mountains before the winter in order to secure a jumping-off ground for a Middle East drive in conjunction with a renewed offensive in Egypt. • The German reinforcements which are still coming up to Stalingrad may be defensive groups intended to replace shock troops diverted elsewhere, but the Russians are not taking chances They are constantly strengthening their defences, feeding men and materials into the city across the Volga, It is revealed that underground factories throughout the siege turned out munitions and repaired tanks and vehicles. The Beylin radio claims that the Germans are maintaining their advance towards Tuapse along the road from Armavir. It also claims that the bridge, heads on the Terek River have all been linked up. FOOD SENT TO RUSSIA BRITISH MINISTER'S STATEMENT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11.3 a.m.) RUGBY. Oct. 13. 44 Substantial quantities of food have been sent to the Soviet Union by tho United Nations,” said Mr R. A. Butler, in the House of Commons, “ and under tho agreement recently signed in Washington between Britain, the United States, and the Soviet, further substantial quantities arc to be made available to the Soviet. It would not be in the public interest to disclose details of the quantities and types of food products already sent or which it is proposed to send,” he added.