Evening star., 1942-01-24
Russians Hoping
To Win in Year,
Criipps Reports
5000, 900 Soviets Are
Now Under Arms,
Briton Declares
BY tie Associated Press.

LONDON, Jan. 24.-Sir Staf-
ford Cripps, retiring British AM
basSador to Moscow, declared
today the Russians hope to de-
liver the final blow to Germany
next fall and winter and that
the Soviets Intend to make the
conquest of Germany absolutely,
complete and thorough"
In lengthy press conference. the
former Ambassador declared that
Joseph Stain was 10 times as
strong" with his people now as he
was at the start of the German in
vasion last year.
In his only reference to Moscow
Toxic relations he declared that
Russia and Japan had long standing
difficulties which could never be
satisfied except by force.
The former Ambassador. who has
lust returned after 18 months in
Russia. said the Red Army now had
9,0O0, 900 men under arms and in the
spring would have twice the strength
it had at the start of the Russian.
German war last June.
Warns of Overconfidence.
Sir Stafford, while praising the
Russian successes on the eastern
front. warned against the belief
that the German army is routed as
losses on both sides are extremely
heavy and the Germans are hghtlns
to the last man.
He said Russian production in the
Urals had been doubled since the
German invasion and that many
factories removed piecemeal from
the front to the West now were
coming into full production again.
He expressed the conviction that
Russia, with British and American
aid. would be able fully to equip the
Red Army to resist any German at
tack during the spring and summer
The Russians are still sending
equipment to China" he said.
He explained that Stain was full
filling the present agreement with
the Chinese. but would not likely be
able to increase the flow OF NUM-
tions.
He described Stain as great
strategist" and said the Russian
/ leader was personally directing the
main strategy along the entire 'front.'
Young Men Given Chance.
Much of the Russian Army's sue
| cess has been due to the fact that
/ they are giving young generals
( chance to show their mettle. Sn
Stafford asserted. and are putting
the older men in positions OF less
responsibility.
some other countries I know OF
might well follow this policy OF CIV
ing youth its chance" he told the
press conference, and his hearers
burst into laughter.
The former Ambassador said the
Russian general staff was extremely
anxious for the British to clear
I,ibya of the Axis forces because IL
believed this would be OF great AID
to the general war effort.
Except for his brief statement ex-
pressing conviction that Russia ana
,Japan must settle their problems
''bv force" Sir Stafford evaoed
questions regarding Moscow-Iokio
relations.
The former Ambassador, who IS
noted for left-wing political lean
ings. said he believed it was not
the policy of the Russian govern
ment to spread Communism over
! Europe"
The Russians do not care what
kind of government European coun-
tries have as long as it is not Nazi,
he added,
Says Religion Is Not Suppressed.
In response to a question about
the attitude of the Stain govern
ment regarding religion, he said
| the government still believes re-
ligion is not good for the people
and it still is being discouraged, but
not suppressed"
Stains position among the
people is 10 times as strong now
as it was when the war started
he added. The success of his
strategy and his personal courage
increased his popularity"
Sir Stafford said the greatest sin
gle factor in the Russian successes
had been the spirit of the people
which enabled them to carry on de-
spite enormous suffering and tre-
mendous transportation difficulties.
Some districts are short of food
because transportation is all taken
up by war needs" he said.
Suffering From Cold.
Immense suffering from cold has
been caused by bomb and shell
blasted windows, he explained, say
ing that once the windows were
broken it was impossible to heat
homes in temperatures 40 degrees
below zero-and even heating sys-
TENS froZe.
Sir Stafford described the Russian
man in the street as friendly toward
the British and said the average
Russian greatly admired the United
States mechanical genius. But he Is
not well informed on foreign affairs,
Sir Stafford added.
The former Ambassador. who has
been prominently mentioned as o
possible figure in a reorganization
Of the government, barred all ques-
tions on domestic affairs.