BATTLE OF RUSSIA: Confidence

That the deadlock in Russia would not last long was plain. The Nazis were bringing up reserves everywhere—1,900,000 of them, the Russians said, many of them from occupied countries. The Red Army, too, was calling up class after class. Momently the Red Army expected the Germans to start driving either toward Moscow or toward the oil fields of the Caucasus.

The Russians were spring-feverish with confidence. Said Pravda: “We have considerably more tanks than we had before and their quality is . . . considerably better than that of the Germans. The Soviet Air Force has increased in numbers and strength and our command continues to hold the initiative firmly. The deep snow that hindered our advance is melting and conditions for an increase in the scope of our attacks are becoming more favorable.” Proudly the Russians announced last week that in a little less than a month they had shot down 891 German planes, lost only 239 themselves. They claimed definite and permanent air superiority.

For anxious Britain and the rousing U.S., this confidence was heartening. If Russian confidence was justified, victory might be in sight. If not, the long night of war might grow darker and colder than ever.