SOVIET DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1941, Page 5

SOVIET DEFENCE

ADMIRATION AWAKENED IN BRITAIN UNPARALLELED SACRIFICES MADE. ADVOCACY OF UNSTINTED SUPPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.5 a.m.) RUGBY, August 22. Apart from official communiques issued by the Soviet and Nazi High Commands, no details are available relating to the fighting on the Russian front and com-

petent commentators express the

view that there has been no deci-

sive change during the past 24 hours.

Fighting took place during the night along the whole front, states a Soviet communique, received here at midday, and stress is laid on particularly fierce fighting in the Kingisepp, Smolensk and Gomel directions.

The seriousness of the loss of Gomel, which the Soviet reports has been evacuated, is appreciated here, but the newspapers comment on the fact that, although the season is still young, weather conditions will not prove advantageous to the invaders. Lt.-General MacFarlane’s report that rain compelled him to spend the night in a forest, because of muddy conditions on the roads, indicates the conditions the Nazis will have to face. In the present circumstances the immobility of transport will tell far more in favour of the Red Army than of their opponents. The vast losses which the Nazis have sustained might be regarded by Hitler as justified could a quick decision be reached, but at present he is not very near obtaining such results.

The Soviet defence and unparalleled courage has aroused the greatest ad- ( miration in Britain. “The Times” comment is typical: “Russia at present is bearing the main weight of this war, in which she has made voluntary sacrifices for the common cause, of a type almost unknown in history. The scorched earth policy, translated into facts, spells desolation and annihilation over tens of thousands of square miles, homelessness and misery for hundreds cf thousands of souls and an inconceivable immolation of stored wealth and the fruits of painfully won progress. Though our own lot has been hard, we have not yet been called on to make such sacrifices. It must be our aim to repay them by every means in our power. Russia has put up a resistance exceeding in tenacity anything yet achieved in land warfare in the past two years. Her cause is our own. She can count on the undivided sympathy of the whole of the British people in the dark and dangerous period through which she is passing. This sympathy must be expressed in deeds, not in words. We must afford her support in every field wherein she stands in need.”

RUSSIAN TROOPS FIGHTING WITH MAGNIFICENT BRAVERY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. August 21. Though information about the progress of the fighting in the titanic struggle between Russia and Germany may be confused because of the extent of the territory covered and the fact that not one’ 1 battle but many are proceeding with varying fortunes, one fact stands out beyond all else —the magnificent bravery with which the Russian soldiers are fighting against the violent onslaught of the Nazi aggressors.

The Swiss newspaper, “Journal de Geneva,” says the element of surprise in this conflict is the stubborn resistance of the Russians. The younger generation has been trained in the idea of struggle and contempt of death. HITLER & MUSSOLINI MEETING SOON ON EASTERN FRONT. STOCKHOLM, August 22.. It is reported that Signor Mussolini will shortly visit the Eastern Front to confer with Herr Hitler.