SPRING OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1942, Page 4

SPRING OFFENSIVE

NAZIS SAID TO BE DOOMED TO FAILURE RUSSIANS USING SIBERIAN ARMY. WITH ANOTHER READY TO REPLACE IT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) CAIRO, March 8. The view that the Germans’ spring offensive in Russia is doomed to failure was expressed by a senior officer of the Allied forces, who for many years was a military attache in Moscow. He said conversations with Russian generals in the last few days had confirmed his opinion that the Russian Army now attacking the Germans is a winter army, largely recruited from areas of Siberia, the inhabitants of which are habituated to severe winter conditions. When the spring comes, this army will be withdrawn and will be replaced by a summer army of fresh troops, well trained and well equipped, which already is ready for action. If Germany makes a supreme effort, she may be able to gain initial successes, and may even push the Russians back to the Volga, but she will not get any further. HEAVY LOSSES NOW ADMITTED BY GERMANS. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. The 48th German Infantry Division was almost wiped out in fighting for towns on the central front. The division consisted largely of Poles, many of whom went over to the Russians. A Finnish communique reports that the Russians, for the second night in succession, bombed Helsinki. The Swiss newspaper “La Suisse” says German military circles now admit that German casualties in Russia are one and a half million killed, wounded or missing. SOVIET TACTICS INFILTRATION SOUTH OF LAKE ILMEN. CONFUSING GERMAN EFFORTS. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. Russian infiltration tactics, as a prelude to clearing up operations, are now apparently being applied in a large area southwards of Lake Ilmen, confusing the German efforts to bring from the Baltic relief for the Sixteenth Army. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says. The- latest reports show that the Russians are massing further strong forces farther southward, behind the Kholm marshes, which are still frozen. The Germans are expecting further powerful thrusts in this vicinity and they are attempting to disturb the preparations by dive-bombing. Russian fighters are shooting down many divebombers. The Russians, after the capture of Yukhnov, advanced appreciably towards Viazma. The “Red Star” publishes a picture showing five Russian girl parachutists, armed with automatic rifles, which is the first indication that women are being employed as parachutists. Nlnao Nilova, a woman machine-gunner in Sebastopol, is claimed thus far to have killed 500 Germans.