ARMIES KEYED UP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1943, Page 3

ARMIES KEYED UP

ON THE EASTERN FRONT RUSSIANS CELEBRATING MAY DAY. DECISIVE STAGE OF WAR BEGINNING. LONDON, April 30.' The Russians are busy preparing for the May Day festivities. The Moscow paper “Izvestia” says Russia is at the beginning of the decisive stage of the war of liberation on the eastern front. Both armies are keyed up. The people of Moscow can still find time to hang out flags and banners in celebration of tomorrow’s festivities. The whole of the celebrations have in mind the defeat of the German invaders. M. Yaroslavsky, a 1 member of the Communist Party, in a broadcast over the Moscow Jradio declared: “We, on the eve of May Day, know that heavy and decisive battles are ahead, and that in the coming months, and perhaps weeks/ the fate of the whole world Will be decided. “Fifteen million men have perished in the colossal struggle which is being waged, and if those tortured to death in the occupied countries are considered, the figure reaches enormous proportions. The world has never seen such slaughter, but despite the heavy losses of the Soviet Union, we are facing May Day with complete faith in our strength to win. “The Germans cannot strike such blows as previously. They lost 9000 tanks on the Eastern Front last winter., Their new offensive will be launched'by an army which is no onger certain of victory. “We today are not alone. We rejoice in every success of our allies. We are striving to uphold the Anglo-American-Soviet alliance against the enemies of mankind.” There is still no word in Moscow about the new offensive the Germans say the Russians have launched in the Kuban. Hitler’s communique again refers to the offensive and speaks of heavy defensive fighting in the face of large Russian forces of tanks, infantry and aircraft. “AIR BATTLESHIP” GIANT BOMBER IN USE AGAINST GERMANY. (By Telegraph—• Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 29. The Moscow radio announced that the Russians in raids against Germany are using a giant bomber nick-named the “air battleship.” This bomber is very heavily armed, and occupied the whole of one large workshop ' while being built. \ HOUR OF LIBERATION DECLARED TO BE AT HAND. CONFIDENCE IN MOSCOW. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.tn.) LONDON, April 30. Although the Russians are maintaining silence, persistent German reports declare that the Russians have not slackened their efforts to drive the Germans out of their last Kuban stronghold. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says the Germans report that General Maslennikov has thrown 100,000 men and several tank brigades into the new assault. The Berlin radio military commentator (Captain Sertorius) elaborates an assertion that the Russians are attack ing on a large scale in the Kuban area. He says nine Russian rifle divisions and three tank brigades fruitlessly attacked both German flanks at Krymskaya in the main thrust of a new offensive. The Associated Press Moscow correspondent says the Germans are continuing to move up large amounts of munitions and supplies to the whole Russian front. It is also reported that large reinforcements are moving up by train and lorry. The Russians are hitting enemy lines o£ communication with heavy blows, chiefly from the air, with Stormoviks and bombers. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Red Army is on its toes, from Leningrad to Novorossisk, as the great May Day national holiday ushers in the spring and summer campaign. The “Izvestia,” in an editorial, states: “Not many days separate us from big and stormy events. The hour of liberation is approaching.” The crushing defeat of the Luftwaffe over the Kuban area on April 28 and 29, when Russian pilots destroyed 116 German planes, marked the culmination of the terrific struggle for air supremacy that had been going on all through. April. Many Russian air aces in April added ten or even fifteen German planes to their individual scores. ORDER' BY STALIN PREDICTION OF COMING VICTORY PROMISE OF SHATTERING BLOWS IN EAST & WEST. LONDON, April 30. The opening of a second front in Europe was foreshadowed by Premier Stalin in an order of the day issued on the eve of Russia’s May Day celebrations. Declaring that Germany would be defeated by simultaneous blows in east and west, M. Stalin said the course of the war had already been changed and the conditions of ■' victory created. After reviewing the winter campaign, M. Stalin said the Germans had failed to stage a revenge for Stalingrad. The Western Allies had swept victoriously through Libya and Tripolitania and were continuing their drive in Tunisia. The effect on the German war machine of the blows struck on the Eastern front and in Africa was critical. Instead of talking of the blitzkrieg, the Nazis were now more and more talking of peace. They had the impudence to hope that they might be able to set the Allies one against another. Was it not clear that only through the complete defeat and unconditional surrender of Germany 1 could Europe achieve peace? M. Stalin added that in spite of the defeats she had suffered, Germany was still strong. He called for a maximum effort on the part of soldiers, workers, farmers and intelligentsia alike. The enemy, M. Stalin concluded, had already felt the strength of shattering blows. ..The time was near when the Red Army, in company with the armies of the Allies, would break the back of German might.