6 Pravda Reviews Allied Offensive MOSCOW. “The strugele must not end with the German and Italian invaders being driven out of Africa. The war must be trans- ferred to the territory of Europe, for unless this is done, the question of free navigation in solved,’ Pravda declares in a in Africa. ‘ The article states: “The military operations in Af- rica are reaching the culminating point. The fact that the tempo of the Anglo-American offensive has slowed down does not in the least mean that the struggle is slackening. It is an indication of preparations for decisive battles, for matters are clearly heading in that direction. “Tt would be naive to think that the Germans and Italians will yield their last support positions in Af- rica without a battle, and more so since Rome and Berlin fully under- stand that the significance of the struggle in Africa ‘reaches far beyond its confines. World public opinion considers the Allied oper- ations in Africa as the beginning of wide offensive operations. “The far reaching perspectives af- forded by the present operations are indicated by the wide response they have evoked ‘in the press and among the public in Britain and the United States. In its comments the American press particularly stresses the fact that the military operations in Africa can be expected to be fol- lowed by an Allied invasion of the Epropesan continent. “The struggle musi not close with the German and Italian invaders being driven out of Africa. The war must be transferred to the territory of Europe, for unless this is done, the question of free navi- the Mediterranean will not be review of the Allied offensive gation in the Mediterranean will not be solved. = “The Italians foresee this. So do the Germans. However, Rome and Berlin estimate the perspectives of this struggle somewhat differently. Whereas the Nazi press still tries to give the impression that the Axis powers will hold their positions in Africa, the Italian military com- mentators declare bluntly that the task of the Italian and German troops in Tunis is merely to check the advance of the United Nations’ armed forces. “Mussolini, evidently foreseeing further reverses and a shifting of military operations to Italy, is try- ing to consolidate his insecure posi- tion in the country. He has called upon the leaders of long disbanded parties of the liberals, nationalists, socialists and syndicalists, hoping to form a ‘national defense govern- ment’ to ‘strengthen Italy against the Anglo-American threat.” “Tt is a miserable attempt, doomed to failure. The real anti- fascist Italy knows the source that is threatening the life and vwell- being of the Italian people. “Our allies have inflicted a serious blow on the German and Italian troops. There is no doubt that in the struggle now in progress in Tunis, the Allies will again score a victory which will open for them the path to Europe, for organizing a second front close to the vital centres of Germany. Vengeance Overtakes German Troops On Outskirts © Ro hell By BORIS YAMPOLSKY eee it lies before us, the old Russian township west of Rzhev. Gone are the age-old streets with bright windows; instead there are only chimneys towering on top of hills like a black forest. On the outskirts there are neither stoves nor chimneys, nothing but a barren field. Only charred stumps resembling a graveyard recall to mind that homes and life have once been here. Suddenly the chureh doors are thrust open to reveal, not a con- gregation but a German six-barrel mortar, muzzles raised skywards, firing mines over the city. A grave mound in the graveyard is sudden- ly lifted to reveal a cannon which, firing a salvo, moves to another place and again beemes a grave mound. Motorized cannon appears from a yellow sheaf. In a blue haze black guns appear from the forest beyond the river, slowly moving towards the town like a procession. Twelve seconds later waves of explosions are sent upwards and one can see the Huns scattering over the field, overtaken by waves. It seems as if vegeance itself is racing after them on black feet to overtake and tear them to bits. As the field quiets down one can hear the distant rumble of a train. Its gun muzzles are trained on the German positions but they are si- lent until the train reaches the approaches to the station. There it halts, opening up fire from all guns. Salvo follows upon salvo. T daybreak the clatter of ap- proaching tanks were heard. Through the fog we could discern the helmets of (Red Army tommy- gunners. To the fighters at ad- vanced positions who for many days had been lying at the out- skirts of am inhabited point, these tommy-gunners in helmets appear- ling from the fog seem like some ‘legendary knights come to their |help. A distant muffled roar of a long- range gun and soon peals of thun- der rolled through the hills and fields of the district west of Rzhev, with pillars of flame rising sky- wards. The clouds of black smoke had not yet dispersed, the earth still roared and shook when the Red Armymen descended upon the German trench. Before the stunned Huns lying on the bottom of the trench had time te lift their heads bayonets were at their throats... One after another they climbed from their underground nests and raised their hands. es e@ HE Germans Were pounding away furiously in an attempt to stem the onslaught of Soviet units. A brick house in an inhabited poimt suddenly came to life. Machine- guns appear in the windows, a can- non muzzle appears in an embra- sure cut in the wall, invisible Ger- man tommy-guns open fire, gren- ades are thrown from roofs. A KV tank crushed the German dugout near the house and fired a few sal- yvoes through the door. Waves of and roofs and crumble the wy Men are running through “9% streets armed with buckets, ladd |p ropes, like fire-fighters. They si @ the walls, fences, roofs, pipes, \¥j cornices and climb through w ows and shellholes. A grenade” thrown followed up by a bayr charge, and cries and the moar of German soldiers merge with roar of explosion, smoke and ¢~ ter. -@ A battle is already raging @ buildings, in narrow dark cc @ dors. The shots die down and « § eries are heard. There is not e elbow-room for a bayonet thr’ & Germans clinging to stairways ~@ pulled down by their coats, knoc 7 down by rifle-butts, thrown out windows. Everywhere clinging banisters and window sills are a Germans shot and stabbed with | bayonet. : e e e i TRETCHING beyond the ji PB captured dockyards are gard #@jj honey-combed with shell-crat — Voices whispering and groan are heard from underground. Red Armyman raised a greni'— prepared for a throw, when a ha — suddenly opened and an old appeared. "We are Russians,’ he cri Gaunt-looking people, their fa covered with dirt, staring with wildered, unseeing eyes, app from underground. Old men ¥ © bruised backs, gray-haired won with sleeping children, followed §, eats, dogs and a hen which < sought shelter from the Germ underground. fee The roar of bombs fades in distance as Soviet troops pursue & explosions tear the windows, doors, retreating Germans. ‘Time To Strike Close’-—McNaughton Predicts Widening Offensive Canadian troops first used this Churchill heavy infantry tank, with its strong armor and formidable six-pounder guns, at Dieppe last August. And according to Li.-Gen. A. G. McNaughton, they may soon be using it again in occupied France, for in a cabled message read over a Winnipeg radio station last week during an “Army Wight” program, Gen. McNaughton stated that the “proper time to strike now draws close, and when | i overseas, I extend congratulations to the people residing in Military District No. 10 on the magnificent contribution which they have made to the army of Canada overseas. “Measured on a per capita basis this is now the highest in all Can- ada, which is a very proud achieve- ment, indeed. “Many thousands of your fellow 'citizens stand ready to do their part. | They have worked and trained with- jout respite, they are hard and fit 'and thoroughly battleworthy in all | respects, “They have shown patience and have endured without complaint the in the crusade that brought us here. In the bitter battles which lie ahead, we are couhting on your continued support fo maintain your units at full strength.” Widening of the offensive was also predicted by Lt-Gen. J. T. McNarney, United States Army deputy chief of staff. Speaking from Washington this week on a “Labor for Victory” broadcast spon- sired by the American Federation of Labor, McNarney declared: “In approaching months, as we extend our offensive fronts into Europe and Asia, we can hardly hope to keep our losses low. The it comes you may be sure that they will give a full account against the enemy in the crusade that brought us here.” Text of Gen. McNaughton’s mes- "sage, read by Brig. R. A. Mac¥Far- lane, commanding Military District Wo. 10, stated: “On behalf of the Canadian Army disappointment of long months of waiting. Thanks to the industry of Canada they are now equipped with the most modern and efficient wea- pons of war. “The proper time to strike now draws close and when it comes you can be sure that they will give a full account against the enemy bloodless winning of Dakar cannot be duplicated every day. “Today all America flames with the offensive spirit. Our watch- ward is attack. Somewhere ahead lies victory. We must fight our way there. It does not look like a hurry-up job, much as we would have it so.” countries. Labor’s spokesmen bitter opposition from almost quistas and Accion Nacional. Upon resumption of relations, the Graphic Arts Workers’ Union wired President Avila -Ca- powerful macho: ‘This action, taken at a time when the people of the USSR are serving mankind with immortal heroism, is a token of homage from The Textile Workers’ Union wired: “In the name of our 25,000 members, we send greetings on renewal of re- lations with the USSR, our ally in the fight in defense of freedom and civilization.” El Popular, Mexico City labor daily, praised Mexico’s action as “consolidating the alliance of the United Nations,” but warned that fascists would use the new ties for further attacks against labor and national unity. “Those political organizations known to be pro-Axis have already begun to accuse President Camacho of handing over the country to Communism,” E] Popular declared, pointing to numerous leaflets which have been circulated during the past week by anti-labor groups ac- cusing Camacho of “tre€ason” for the Mexican people.” Z é Mexico Reopens Soviet Relations Reestablishment of normal diplomatic relations betwe Mexico and the Soviet Union has been warmly welcomed — Mexico trade unionists, who for more than a decade have striy to bring about a renewal of diplomatic ties between the t Alejandro Carillo and Senator Vidal Diaz Munoz, have ¢ sistently pressed the administration for action, in the face violent attacks by such pro-Axis organizations as the Sin — MEXICO CITY. in Congress, including Dep; | = ce the entire Mexican press agreeing to relations with USSR. —LA FE Aurelio Aleobe, =éneral secret of the Confederation of Boliv © Workers, has urged the Boliy | government to follow the exam of Cuba and Mexico and instit” diplomatic relations with the Sov Union, as proposed by a resolut™ passed by the Bolivian Congress. — “Foreign~ Minister Anze Mati zZo's message to the USSR prais: the achievements of the Red Ar | has the warm support of Boliv: workers,” Alcobe said. y He announced that Bolivian m ers are donating one day's pay month to Russian War Relief. 1) ‘proceeds from this month’s ¢t tribution will be used to buy tons of tin for shipment to 1 Soviet Union, —MONTEVIDE | Election last week of Juan Jc Amazeza, candidate of President — fredo Baldomir’s Colorado Party, | Uruguay's next president represel a victory for democratic forces a a defeat for fascists led by Le Alberto de Herrera, whose vote f sharply.