PERSISTENT REPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1943, Page 4

PERSISTENT REPORTS

OF GERMAN WITHDRAWALS FROM RUSSIA IN ORDER TO MEET DANGERS ELSEWHERE. INCREASED WEAPON STRENGTH OF RED ARMY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 20. On the eve of the second anniversary of Hitler’s invasion of Russia there have been persistent reports on recent days that the Axis has withdrawn forces from the East in order to meet dangers threatening from elsewhere. One source states that Axis strength in Russia has been reduced from 190 German and 28 satellite divisions to 170 German divisions and 16 others.

The “Daily Express” military writer says enemy troop movements appear to have justified the Russians’ confidence that German aggression on the Eastern front this summer is not now to be expected. “The Red Army, which is stronger in weapon power, though probably not in man power, than two years ago, is now so disposed as to enable it to attack in one or more of several directions,” the writer adds. “The Russians’ three great tasks are the liberation of Leningrad by the restoration of all communications, the capture- of the Orel salient, which still means a possible threat to Moscow, and recovery of the Donbas, to enable the Russians to get more coal and steel for war industries.”

The Moscow radio reports that the Russians are holding their newly-won positions around Orel in face of concentrated German counter-attacks. The Russians have beaten off fifty such attacks and consolidated fresh positions on the north-eastern edge of the German bulge, inflicting considerable losses in men and tanks.