GREAT NEW DRIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1942, Page 3

GREAT NEW DRIVE

OPENED BY THE RUSSIANS German Line Broken in Leningrad Zone GAP WIDENING IN SPITE OF ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS SOVIET GAINS ON ALL MAIN FRONTS LONDON, February 8. The Red Army is reported to have launched a great new attack on the Germans in the Leningrad zone. Soviet cavalry were first to break through the ring of the enemy forces. They were followed by infantry and artillery, which drove a wedge in the enemy’s defences and caused havoc among the German , communications. Village after village has been captured. Reserves from all parts of Russia are being rushed to this new battle zone and the gap broken by the Russians is being widened, despite German counter-attacks. Sir Stafford Cripps, who relinquished lately the post of Ambassador to Russia, said today that Britain and the United States must help Russia to prepare against a spring offensive by the German Army. . This would be the most critical stage of the whole war. There must be no Russian retreat. Stalin had selected the moment at which to counter-attack the Germans and his decision was likely to stand as one of the ultimate decisions of history. In a tribute to Russia, the Australian Army Minister, Mr Forde, said we had to do our utmost to make our industrial and military effort as brilliantly competent as that of the Soviet. The Moscow radio reports further Russian gains on the north-west, central and south-west sectors. A Russian communique speaks of continuous fighting on all fronts.