All is Not Well With Red Armies

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 7

All is Not Well With Red Armies

Significant Silence in Moscow EFFECT ON SOVIET POLICY IN BALKANS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Wednesday, 7.45 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 26. Colourless Russian communiques and the absence of claims of a victory strengthen the suspicions that all is not well on the front, says Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, Moscow correspondent of the New York Times. “What is behind the silence, and why are there no figures giving casualties, prisoners and booty captured or lost?” he asks. Current estimates of competent foreigners of the Red Army casualties, and admittedly guesswork, place them at from 20,000 to 50,000. It is not possible to doubt that the Red Army is encountering tremendous difficulties and the progress is disappointingly slow. “It is likely in the absence of normal supply facilities that the columns are carrying supplies for a limited period under orders to reach the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia at a fixed date in order to seize the railway and obtain local supplies. This means that their security is dependent on close adherence to timetable and any deviation would leave the armies in the deplorable position of being unable to replenish their foodstuffs and munitions. ’ ’ Dealing with another aspect of the situation, Mr. Gedye says: ‘ ‘ The effect that the Russian troops’ situation in Finland will have on Soviet policy is becoming an important question, especially in view of the arrival to-morrow of /ie Bulgarian Finance Minister. Although it is impossible to check all the Finnish claims, undoubtedly the campaign is not going in the least according to Russian expectations. Despite the silence of the newspapers a realisation of the heavy casualties is beginning to filter to the public, hut the public know nothing of experienced neutrals’ graver stories of terrific casualties caused by mines beneath the ice detonated under concentrations of troops and tanks, of aviators and others illequipped to face the terrible cold, or of infantry mown down attacking in mass formation. 4 4 The Russian public are discussing questioningly the deadlock over Finland and the absence of a revolt in favour of the ‘Peoples’ Govern ment,’ also the present Moscow shortage of butter, sugar and milk which are more extensive than usual. Rightly or wrongly the public put the blame on the Finnish war secondaroly and primarily on the unpopular German Pact. Although it is probably silly they suspect the Germans of depriving the Soviet of milk. Citizens are noticing how Germans in Moscow plunder the stores of huge quantities of butter and sugar to send to their families in Germany. “Internally and externally the Soviet could use the diversion if it were content at present with concentrating overwhelming troops, machines and munitions against the Finns. This should lessen the BalkanBlack Sea tension. The Bulgarian Finance Minister’s visit has caused speculation as to whether a political alliance is pending, but well-informed quarters declare Bulgaria has just refused the Soviet’s demand for an alliance.’ *