The Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1944. Significance of Russian Drive

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 55, 8 March 1944, Page 4

The Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1944. Significance of Russian Drive

The fact of so few prisoners having been taken, as compared with the vast armies engaged on the Russian front, during the long continued German retreat for months past, had led to the conclusion that the enemy was indeed making a 4 controlled withdrawal from Russia. There was much to support this view, not alone regarding the fewness of prisoners taken, but also from the fact that Russian progress was slow', although as steady as the flowing of a great tide. Then again, the Germans appeared to be able to hold on for prolonged periods to certain vital points. There is now seen the possibility of a most significant change on the Russian front—a pointer to the fact that the enemy may no longer have control of his withdrawal. According to London military opinion, as given a week ago and voiced in this city by an authoritative British representative, if the Russians could succeed in cutting the Odessa railway it would be the most decisive event of the Russian campaign. There might then come an encirclement and an annihilation of the Gei-man army far greater than that of Stalingrad. General Zhukov had launched an attack upon the vital OdessaLwow railway, the enemy’s last remaining escape route north from the Rumanian frontier. Latest advice tells of the cutting of this railway, which drives a huge wedge into the German front and deprives the enemy of highly consequent mobility. The Russian forces have advanced to within 70 miles of the Bessarabian border, the nearest point to Rumania. We are now seeing’ something of the irresistibility of the Russian advance. And conversely, inability on the part of the Wehrmacht to halt that advance. That this position has come about is not solely due to the great effort of Russia, for credit must be given indeed to the Western nations for the part they have played relative to that very front. There were released last week striking figures of American aid to Russia, which told of shipments of , munitions and other war supplies under Lend-Lease, during the Russian-German war to the end of 1943. The total quantity was 8,400,000 tons, which is the equivalent to ten years’ shipments of everything exported from New Zealand. During 1943 alone no less than 5,400,000 tons were shipped, including 4700 tanks and tank destroyers, more thousands of trucks and jeeps and other military motor vehicles. And that aid from America is believed to have been about equalled by Britain’s contribution. Apart from such direct assistance to Russia, supplementing her vast manpower resources —which more than equalled those of America and the white population of the British Empire combined —the Western allies have enormously assisted Russia by the ever-growing bombing offensive with which they have shattered Germany. This is twofold in effect, for it deprives Germany of air-power to oppose the Russians and also lowers the enemy’s output of arms and munitions. All this is not to detract from the merit of Russian achievements but for the sole purpose of placing them in true perspective. The advance of Russia’s fighting forces westward brings ever more into the foreground the diplomatic aspect of this world war. Treaties will begin to rank with battles in importance. Already Russia is negotiating for Finland’s withdrawal from the war. She was warned Rumania of the necessity to do likewise. Her relations with Bulgaria, which country has not actually fought the Russians but 1 lias been otherwise an Axis satellite, must be nearing the point for negotiations; and then the Hungarians must realise that they are in grave danger. There is the Polish question which has been simmering for some time, and linked with this is the fate of the three small Baltic States of Latvia, Esthonia and Lithuania. The diplomatic dovecotes will indeed be stirring.