THAW GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1943, Page 3

THAW GENERAL

EARLY SPRING CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA I SLOWING DOWN OF SOVIET OFFENSIVE. RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN HAND (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 1. The thaw seems general on the Russian front, at least as far north as Moscow —even from Leningrad early spring conditions are reported—and the opinion is expressed in London that a slowing down of the Russian offensive was to be expected. It appears -probable that the Germans may be able to make further slight progress in the north-west Donetz Basin, though there is still no confirmation of their claims to have recaptured Kramatorskaya and Lozovaya. Doubtless, the Germans destroyed every bridge from Stalingrad to the present front and it is a fair assumption that the Russians have not yet been able to bring up great quantities of munitions. The Russian morning communique, however, again tells of “offensive fighting in the same directions as before “and the supplement records successful local operations south-west of Voroshilovgrad, west of Kursk and west of Rostov. Meanwhile, in the liberated territory, the work of reconstruction proceeds speedily. The Moscow radio, reporting on the restoration of Voronezh, states that over ten thousand civilians have already returned to the city. Workers are repairing railway installations and several factories have be* gun work. The trams will function on May 1.