it is reported from Berne that, according to German authorities, the battle of Smolensk has ended, and that the battle of the Ukraine is commencing. If the former statement is true it means that the Soviet armies have succeeded in holding the German onslaught in the middle of the long front which has been established, and that the expensive efforts of the Germans in that area have been brought to naught. It is an interesting fact that for at least a fortnight the Germans have been unable to claim the capture of any important town, or the reduction of any position valuable to the Russian defence. If it is true that the battle for the Ukraine is now commencing it merely means that the Germans are shifting their ground and seek. ing to find a weak spot in the Russian resistance, which, it is perfectly clear now, has thoroughly surprised their high command. The latter appear to have completely underestimated the worth of the Russian armies and are paying dearly for their mistake.
That accounts for the confidence which is German armies, and they espite the initial advantage which surprise gave them. The invasion has first been slowed down and may now be considered to be^held. There are, reports current to the effect that the German high command is re-
Tha! be true, but no reorganization will be really lete before the Germans have liquidated us tib is doubtful whether the Germs be ele to indulge in a fourth before nature comes to the Russians as it did more than German A suppose that Britain would take such as would be necessary towards Russia to defend herself in the Far East Much, of course, would depend upon the attitude of the United States, but, the prime essential being the defeat of aggression, it is not thought likely that Washington would withhold support from any move which Great Britain might make towards the destruction of the common enemy and the thwarting of any assistance which Japan may be ill-
ally.
enough to seek to give her German Left Undone g condemned with adopted by Mussolini and his followers. and within recent months by the Germans who have been put over Mussolini and have been ehtrusted by Herr Hitler with the task of telling him what to do, Not long after the declaration of war by Italy against France and Britain, belief that the Democracies were on Service duties who have no iven over to old Outdoor Sports on Roof dation was exercised that the paper was cóm-pelled to promise that its political comments would in future not run opposite to the plans of the Fascist regime. As a result it was permitted dent newspaper published in occupied Europe, to continue to exist as the only really indepen-
Its. independence was always the knowledge that the powers that were—-in Italy would seize the first opportunity to suppress its circulation, and, therefore, its criticisms have always been of a more negative than positive nature, It has not been able. to report with their full significance even the, denunciations of the "new order" which the bullies of Berlin have been attempting to force on their neighbours, The charge now brought against this newspaper is not that it has clashed with Fascist—or Nazi—policies, but the negative one that it has not acclaimed these policies as being universally desirable, It has st refrained from comment upon the Polish-Russian accord. while the controlled press of the rest of Italy has been busy denouncing the accord as another piece of Democratic treachery and another example of the so-called perfidy of the lovers of freedom, It will not be forgotten, however, that in circles outside the Nazi orbit, the persecution of Christianity and the Catholic church, especially in Poland, has been repeatedly censured by the Pope, It is all very well for the atrocities com-
BSF pac DEDE e approach of enemy aircraft. net Y layed on Saturday Bes are conducted in for long periods, nightly.
lo result is that now there are four country houses available for evacuation from the Clubland eentre—one for mothers and babies, one lo, one each for boys and girls. buses have been don, while his safer areas. He can have his meals canteen in which girl members able service. much worse atrocities the Germans themselves against the rel beliefs of a people whom they believed to have been con-
WAR FUND BAROMETER
quered, It is noteworthy that the Polish-Russian accord made no attempt to define frontiers, It The Voluntary Wer Contribution Fümd/haé^ merely expressed the spirit of goodwill which, it is hoped. the settlement of the world's problems will be based when this war is over for so a Seis Amal Savings 41 and the Nazis and their ilk have been defeated. have "That is. of course, its chief fault in the eyes of the Nazis and the Fascists, It is an example of Fund Amount Contributed wiping the slate clean of all past misunderstand-Central British War Fund 18,806.25 ing and starting afresh with the object of being Vol. War Contribution Fund 4,885.00 "good neighbours." which the Nazis could never War Savings Association for a moment condone. The Nazis do not want "good neighbours": they want only ones—Including weekly neighbours over whom they can brandish Thor's §—Including daily transfers from CN§ into hammer without the possibility that there will t—Including monthly transfers from CUS into be any defiance. What is most damnable in Nazi and Fascist eyes is that the Polish-Russian accord paves the way to friendly relations between the
IN PARENTHESIS
two countries, The Nazis do not approve of friendly relations between peoples; the only fe-lations they recognize are those between master
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.