HITLER’S FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1943, Page 3

HITLER’S FORCES

ON THE ROAD TO DEFEAT RUSSIA’S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. ADMIRATION EXPRESSED BY ROOSEVELT. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, February 22. President Roosevelt has sent a message to M. Stalin on the occasion of the Red Army’s 25th anniversary (which officially falls tomorrow), expressing profound admiration of its magnificent achievements, which have not been surpassed in all history. “The Red Army and the Russian people have surely started Hitler’s forces on the road to ultimate defeat, and such achievements could only be accomplished by an army skilful in leadership, sound in organisation, adequate in training, and, above all, with a determination to defeat the enemy regardless of cost and self-sacrifice.’ the President states. “I wish to pay a tribute to the Russian people, who are giving their full efforts to the war and making a supreme sacrifice.” The Vice-President, Mr Henry Wallace, in a speech said: “Men who are in a position to know believe that if the people of America and England equalled the unified, all-out effort that is now displayed by the magnificent Russians, Germany could be defeated in 1943. But this will not happen if we allow our policy to be dictated by those who believe that Russia is going to win the war for us without our further help. “We can knock out Hitler and the Japanese in the second round of this fight, but we shall have to harness every spiritual and material resource,” he said. “The American boys in North Africa are fighting mad, and they will not be satisfied till they chase the Nazis from Africa, Italy, and Berlin.” , DUE TO A GREAT MAN. The former United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mr Joseph E. Davies, addressing a Red Army anniversary celebration, spoke of the Russian resistance to Germany as “one of the most decisive events in history,” and attributed it to “the vision, judgment, persistence, and power of that single great man —Stalin.” No one foresaw the Hitler menace more clearly than did Stalin, Voroshilov, Litvinov, Mikoyan, and other great men whom he said he knew in Moscow six years ago. Six years ago, M. Stalin had already declared that “the second universal war has become inevitable.” But for Stalin, who, however, disclaimed all personal credit, the great Russian industrial plants would not have existed and the Germans upon crossing the Polish border would not have been confronted with the tanks, guns, aeroplanes, weapons, and equipment of the army which prevented Hitler’ from sweeping over the Soviet Union, and so dominating and controlling Europe and Asia, and eventually Africa and the seven seas.

“The single truth,” Mr Davies said, “is that in these Russian campaigns the-Government of the Soviet Union, its leaders, the Red Army, and the great Soviet people, have destroyed the myth of Hitler’s invincibility and contributed for the world’s peace a new strategy of defence against mechanised lighting attack saved the liberties and homes of Mother Russia, broken the back of Hitler’s offensive, and prevented him dominating three continents, and given us a priceless gift of time, to take our share in destroying this evil thing which has threatened peaceful-living people everywhere.” Tributes were also paid by American Labour officials.