SOVIET RESOLVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1941, Page 6

SOVIET RESOLVE

ENEMY TO BE KEPT MOVING BACK With No Chance to Establish Static Line ROUSING CALL MADE ON RED ARMY AND ON WORKERS IN FACTORIES (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) MOSCOW, December 29. An intensive propaganda campaign has begun to drive home to Russians in the fighting and industrial armies that now that the Germans are on the run, they must be given no respite in which to reorganise their forces. The “Red Star” says: “Time always was of the greatest value in battle, but at present it assumes for us an exceptionally great value. Each hour we delay our progress, each hour in which a respite is given to the enemy, is a gain for the enemy and a loss for us. The Red Army believes that the Germans, because of their heavy losses, are placing above every other consideration the preservation of manpower, with which, on a new and favourable line, they will be able to reorganise and re-establish their striking power. The German High Command calculates that technical equipment might be replaced, but that the reserves from which losses of officers and men will be replaced have already been heavily overtaxed. The Germans, because of their reverses, now find it essential to try to establish a static line, and to do that they must have time—a respite in which there will be no actual contact between the main armies. That explains why the Germans are feverishly moving back troops at the expense of enormous losses of equipment.” The Russian soldiers and workers are told that the enemy attempt to reorganise must be prevented. “Do not let them recuperate and heal their wounds. Keep them moving!” urges the “Red Star.” “The enemy is leaving strong rearguards, supported by heavy artillery forces, to hold the Soviet troops and give the main army a chance to escape. The Red Army must not be held up by these forces, even if an advance means leaving them in the rear. The following Soviet troops will liquidate them. One of the most effective night-raiding weapons is the Russian modern version of cavalry. A technique has been perfected, the keynote of which is secrecy and suddenness of operations. These modern mounted troops are armed with the most modern weapons, including automatic rifles, anti-tank rifles; grenades and bottles of liquid combustibles.”