STALIN’S HOPES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1942, Page 3

STALIN’S HOPES

RUSSIANS MAY REACH BERLIN THIS YEAR GERMANS NOT TO REGAIN INITIATIVE. RED ARMY’S INCREASING STRENGTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON. January 26. There is unlikely to be any German offensive against Russia this year, says the military correspondent of the “Daily Express.” Stalin does not intend that the Germans should ever regain the initiative. He is more likely to launch a spring offensive himself and is confident that the Russians will be in Berlin before the end of this year. Many experts with an inside knowledge of the facts support his belief. The daily increasing strength of the Red Army’s attacks is now confidently believed to have caused a vital change in the German war plans. Announcements of striking new Russian successes can be expected soon. Within the next four weeks operations on a scale not yet attempted by the Russians will be launched. There are several reasons why Hitler, in all probability, cannot stage a come-back in Russia. The German casualties already are so vast that the Nazis are facing a grave shortage of effectives. Germany cannot make good the losses of equipment which she is suffering and will continue to suffer in the disastrous war against the Soviet. By the summer Germany will begin to feel an oil shortage. GAINS CONSOLIDATED SEVERAL LOCAL SUCCESSES. EXTENSION OF THRUSTS. LONDON, January 27. _ The Russians are consolidating their recent gains and are extending their thrusts into the German lines north and south of Moscow. Several local successes are reported by Marshal Timoshenko’s forces. The fine work of Russian ski troops in the northern front is warmly praised. The midday Moscow communique reports more local successes, which are part of the larger offensive now in operation. In one of the sectors on the southern front at an inhabited locality described as “K,” Russian troops are stated to have defeated the enemy. In another area three battalions of German infantry were routed. According to the Soviet War News, the Germans have lost 959 planes in combat over Moscow, and its approaches. These figures represent 12 per cent of the attacking force. Agency correspondents with the Soviet troops advancing west from Mojaisk speak of the devastation caused by the Germans. They add that the great new Soviet armies which are ready to come into action are eager to avenge this destruction.