GERMAN HOPES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1942, Page 4

GERMAN HOPES

OF RECOVERY ON EASTERN FRONT NEUTRAL OBSERVERS SUGGEST DOUBTS. ISOLATION OF ADVANCED GARRISONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON. March 23. Spokesmen in Berlin imply that the Germans on the eastern front are now undergoing the most difficult trials of the whole winter, but claim that they are successfully stemming all the Russian attacks, which are the most violent of the winter, because the Russians realise that they are the last that can be launched before the thaw. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says Berlin admits that the front line troops arc wearied by the winter hardships and must be replaced and claims that fresh troops are already going to the front. Thus, it is added, the whole front will soon be refreshed and Germany’s mighty war machine will irresistibly push forward as soon as the weather permits. Neutral observers question how the most advanced garrisons can be exchanged, since many admittedly are isolated. They also point out that isolated groups were told last week that they must hold out until they were relieved by a general forward surge in the spring. Important light has been thrown on the German preparations ndrthwards of Leningrad by an authoritative report from Berlin that fresh German forces are replacing Finnish troops on sectors hitherto held by the Finns alone. It is believed that these sectors include the Karelian isthmus. Another report states that Marshal Mannerheim no longer commands the German units in Finland which are now under an independent German supreme command.