World: Stalin's Report

In the bluish dusk the sound of gunfire rolled over Moscow and Leningrad, the Dnieper's ruined cities, Rostov on the distant Don. The salvos were Russia's salute to her army on its 26th anniversary. In the Kremlin, Marshal Joseph Stalin marked the date with a 2,000-word order, fat with the names of battles won, seasoned with pride and confidence, barbed with reference to Russia's "singlehanded" combat, Said Stalin:

> Since the winter offensive began on December 19, the Red Army has recaptured 77,220 sq. miles of territory, 13,000 hamlets and towns, vast areas...

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