1941-06-23 — Page 3

"Knife Through Butter" Theory Held To Be Unsound

LESSONS OF SWEDEN

THE WAR IN RECALLS ALL

DEBATE ON SHIPPING POSTPONED

A statement will be made on recent deve- lopments in foreign affairs at the next sit- ting of the House of Commons.

Announcing this, a statement from No.

10, Downing Street said: "Owing to the foreign situation, the debate on shipping which had been ranged for the sitting of the

ar-

next Com-

mons will be postpon- ed."-Reuter.

00000000

+00000000

New Tone In Moscow

The last Moscow radio

FINLAND

(By Reuter's Former Correspondent

}

in Finland)

WITH THE RUSSO-FINNISH CONFLICT IN MIND THERE IS A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD OPINION THAT THE GERMAN PANZER DIVI- SIONS WILL:“GO THROUGH RUSSIA LIKE A KNIFE THROUGH BUTTER" AND THAT THE LUFTWAFFE WILL HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN SMASHING UP THE RUSSIAN AIR FORCE.

After what I saw of the Russian army and air force in action in Finland, and I have interviewed many Russian prisoners, I am definitely of opinion that the Germans have no easy task before them.

HITLER SHOULD NOT

BE COCKY

The Russians have learned much from their war against Finland and have not been slow to pro- fit thereby. The Russian air force's performance in Finland was disappoint- ing but it has been con- siderably improved since.

I understand that the Russians

several now have

very secret

which they confidently believe

SHIPPING

The Swedish Ccbinet held an emergency meeting yesterday morning. King Gustav arrived at the Royal Palace from his coun- try residence at 10.15 a.m. where he received the Foreign Minister, M. Guenther, and the Premier, M. Hansson, 15 minutes later, the interview lasting till 11.20 a.m.

The Swedish radio sent out numerous messages to ships at sea, instructing them to return immediately to Swedish ports in view of the Russo-Ger- man war-Reuter.

Rumania

Calls It

Holy

and fighters Japanese military quar-types of bombers broadcast last night con- ters in Tokyo estimate are a match for any in the world.

tained no bulletin about that more than 100 divi- the military operations.

The tone of the Moscow for eign news broadcast underwent a noticeable change during the

evening.

British war news was given greater prominence than usual and reports of the bombing of German objectives by the R.A.F. were read by the Moscow announcer with great gusto. President Roosevelt's declara- tion about the sinking of the Robin Moor was given in great detail-Reuter.

BURMA DEFENCE

EXERCISES.

A defence exercise to tes Burma's state of preparedness to war, 'is to be held for four day next month, a communique I Rangoon announces.-Reuter.

sions are engaged on both sides in the war between Germany and Russia.

They suggest the Soviet forces will avoid fighting near the border but will engage the

riazis in the interior.

These have been seen only by Soviet technicians and State-

Russian pilota have a reputation.

COMPLETE

MOSCOW BLACKOUT

All day long loud-speak- ers transmitted broadcast orders and patriotic marches in all Moscow's public squares.

at

Extra guards have been posted Underground stations and crowds thronged the streets listen- ing to the radio,

M. Molotov's announcement was the first indication of the Gér-

man

Russian attack which the people had, though the news was known to foreigners early in the morning.

The news was calmly received."

A. complete black-out and other air raid precautions have been ordered by Moscow radio. The black-out applied to all road and rail transport. YOUNG SOVIET PATRIOTS JUST! FROM HIGH SCHOOL ARE APPEARING AT LOCAL WAR COMMISSARIATS IN GREAT NUMBERS ASKING TO BE ACCEPTED FOR MILITARY SERVICE, STATED MOSCOW RADIO.

"The report of the predatory aggression by German Fascism spread live wildfire all over the Soviet Union," said the announcer. -Reuter.

ALL RUSSIANS TO REPORT

All subjects of Soviet Russia, over the age of 15 living in Reich territory must report to Police within 24 hours.

',

"To-day the hour of the

the approved Russian pilots. good holy war has struck," says

The order was issued by the The strength of General Antonescu, in an German Chief of Police in Ber- the Russian air force is a secret Order of the Day issued in, and includes stateless people which has been closely and

previously had1

Soviet, who successfully guarded.

to Rumanian troops who

Lithuanian. Latvian or Esthonian are fighting side by side nationality-Reuter. Russian Reserves

with the Germans against

to heart Paratroops were first used and The German tactica, they aver, trained in Russia and the Ger- Russia, according to the to shoulder and heart

official are, aimed at getting

news with the strongest and most glor- hold man pupil should prove no more German

of

ious army in the world. They are Russia's food and heavy indus-expert in this branch of fighting

agency.

fighting on Moldavian soil for our trial resources with the idea of than has the Russian master.

"I command you to cross the frontiers and for the justice of the paralysing Soviet resistance.

As to the army, the Russians can call upon many more men Pruth and

smash the enemy to world.

"Prove yourselves worthy of than the Germans, who, further, the east and north, to free your

many. commitments, subjugated brothers from the Red the honour of the mission alloted leader, have now

to you by that unique in yoke. having to keep large forces

other

"You will be fighting shoulder Adolf Hitler.”—Reuter, France, Norway and the occupied countries in the West.

Nobody under-estimates the power of the German mechan. leed divisions. But the Rus- slans, too, have a very fina mechanised. corps, including eight-ton tanks, some of which I saw in Finland.

These experts consider the odds rather heavily in favour of Ger-

many.

"Germany may be able to occupy the Leningrad, Moscow and Ukrainlan areas but that wifl not decide the

war. Reuter.

PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGH RUSSIA

MOSCOW RADIO announces that from all districts of the U.S.S.R. comes news of enthusiastic and patriotic demonstrations.

Feeling is identical everywhere," said the Russian announcer: "The Russian people will defend their country and liberty their lives. Millions rally round the

Moment.

Quantity And Quality

In armaments generally the Russians are very strong, and if the man behind the guns, is not as expert as the Germans, the quantity and quality of Russian material may prevail.

When the Russians started the war against Finland, they sent to the front ill-equipped reserve troops.

They made the mistake of thinking, it was a walk over and tried to win the war dur- Ing the coldest winter on record with inexperienced troops. As soon as the mistake was realised and crack Moscow troops were, sent to Finland, together with much of the best Russian material, the capitulation of the Finns was, obtained rapidly.

Stalin's Changes- Under similar conditions the Germans would have done no better against the tough Finns than the Russians had at first. organis-True, the Russians were poorly led but this was the result of the many purges and, the power held by political commissors.

"Klev, inhabitants are Indignant calling, for discipline and over the dastardly bombing and ed, effort in order to smash. the proclaim their preparedness for contemptible enemy, the great military effort.

"Moscow: is quiet and conscious of the great task before it," con- From Siberia and the Caucasus cluded the announcer in a brond- comes the same, feeling. Con- cast devoted to public reaction to fidence in victory is expressed in the Gorman aggression through speeches all over the country, out, the Soviet Union Router.

Stalin, realising this, had re- organised his army, dismissed the political commissars and put the services on a more strictly mill-

Reuter tary footing, m

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