FIERCE BATTLES RAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 228, 9 July 1941, Page 5

FIERCE BATTLES RAGE.

VERY THItKLY ARMOURED.

WARNING TO GERMAN PEOPLE.

VIOLENT FIGHTING PENDING.

COSTLY ATTACK ON STALIN LINE

(United Press Association—Copyright. (Roc. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 8. Latest reports 'from the Russian front indicate that the German “blitzkrieg” is slowing down, at least temporarily. The German communique to-day merely says that operations are proceeding according to plan, whereas the Russians report successful defence or counter-attacks on all fronts.

Commentators conclude that the comparative lull on the central front is preparatory to a German attack on a largo scale on Smolensk by means of a pincers movement through Lopel and Bobruisk.

The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that the Germans paid o. high price in men and materials and precious time for the mere approach to the Stalin line. The Berlin radio, however, claims that the Germans pierced the line at several points. A semi-official Berlin commentary refers to spearheads reaching the Stalin Line, and warns the German people that operations • are now entering . a phase ’in which violent fighting must he expected. The Moscow radio says that many Finns are deserting to the Russians. It also broadcast, to Germany a list of the names of Germans who had gone oyer to the Russians, and appealed to German soldiers to follow their ex-/ ample. The fiercest fighting at present is occurring west of Ostrov, a key-point on the Leningrad road, where the Russians flung in masses of giant tanks of 85 or 90 tons, with armour as thick as that of battleships. The battle raged in moonlight all Sunday night and was still going'on yesterday afternoon. Nazi attempts to drive a spearhead between Ostrov and Novgorod jmd cut off the Russians in Northern Esthonia have so far been defeated. Another huge tank battle is raging south of Polotsk, where German infantry are suffering their heaviest losses so far. They attempted to cross the Dvina River, but the Russian machine- • gunners raked their collapsible boats. The Germans are progressing only in south-eastern Esthonia. Even here the ’ Russians have laid waste the land. lx. is certain that whenever the Germans advance they find only “scorched

earth.” The German News Agency act- * mits that Minsk was a smoking ruin when the troops entered. Neutral journalists who visited Lwow testify to the great destruction of property and equipment. Libau was reduced to ashes before the Germans entered. livery town and village the invaders enter is a blackened mass ol' ruins. A Russian communique states: “Operations which developed yesterday in the regions of Ostrov, Polotsk, Lepel, Bobruisk, Novograd-Volynak, Minilev, Podolsk and the Ukraine con- . tinued witli > undiminished force during the night- Our troops in the region of Ostrov made a determined resistance, checking the enemy’s advance. Intense, stubborn fighting continues in the region of Polotsk: Our units in tlie Bobruisk region destroyed 35 heavy tanks and two battalions of infantry. “All the enemy’s attempts to force a crossing of the Dneiper were frustrated with heavy enemy losses. There was intense fighting in the region of Novograd-Nvolynsk against tanks and mechanised forces. * “Our troops further south counterattacked the enemy on the flank and in the rear and wiped out two infantry 1 regiments. Our troops in the regions of Mohilev, Podolsk and the Ukraine are fighting stubbornly, with the enemy attempting to break through to the Dniester. They annihilated the enemy group by group in this region. As a result of a Soviet counter-attack in the Bessarabian sector, part of the Rumanian and German troops were destroyed and thrown back from Soviet territory.” A Rumanian communique says: “All the Russians have been cleared from the Buko vine region. Pursuit of the enemy continues in Bessarabia, and fighting is in progress on the lower reaches of the Pruth and on the Danube Delta.”