FIRMER STAND

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

FIRMER STAND

THE RUSSIAN RESISTANCE. BATTLES CONTINUE UNABATED. GAINS CLAIMED BY SOVIET. (United Press Association —Copyright» LONDON, July S. The Russians . yesterday provided the. strongest resistance the Germans have yet met as they joined battle with the spearheads of the German forces at many points on the main Russian front from Osti’ov,, just inside Russia’s old frontier with northeast. Latvia, to the Ukraine. The Russians are holding the advance everywhere on this front, although the Germans appear to have reached the Dneiper river near Orsha, between Minsk and Smolensk, and also east from Bobruisk, about 90 miles south of Orsha. The German offensive against the Ukraine has apparently not penetrated beyond the Novograd Volynsk and Sliepetovka. regions, but the Russians appear to be retiring in the Tarnapol province and the Bukovina in order to straighten their line. In Bessarabia the Russians say they have thrown back the enemy to his original positions. This suggests that they are attempting to hold the Pruth river line' on this front, at least for the present. A Russian communique issued today speaks of battles continuing with unabated ferocity on the main Russian front. It says, that the Russians counter-attacked in the Lepel. area, north-west of Orsha, and that ill the Bobruisk region enemy attempts to cross* the Dneiper were repulsed. Here, the communique says, 35 heavy German tanks and two infantry battalions were wiped out.

Mechanised Forces Engaged.

It is evident from the over-night Russian communique that there were terrific battles yesterday between mechanised forces from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and it is significant that this communique refers to the same sectors as were mentioned in the Russian communiques yesterday. This indicates that there has been no substantial change in the fighting. The Germans say they have launched an attack on the Stalin Line, and the Official German News Agency claims that advanced forces have broken the line at two points in the Ukraine, but the Russians presumably referring to the same sector, claim that Russian tanks counter-attacked, forcing German crews to jump from the wreckage of their olazing tanks, and destroying 300 tanks, as well as capturing 12 long-range guns and 500 prisoners.

t Russians Report Heavy Fighting.

The over-night Moscow communique states: “There was intense fighting yesterday in the direction of Ostrov, Polotsk, Lepel, Bobruisk, Novograd, Volynsk, and Mogilev. . “In the northern sector our troops fought engagements in the direction of Kandalaksha and Kexholm, inflicting losses on the enemy who had penetrated our territory.

“In the Ostrov area / our troops fought stubbornly against strong enemy mechanised forces and prevented their advance to the nortlfieast. “Fierce fighting developed in the direction of Pblotsk, where the enemy repeatedly tried to.land large forces on the northern bank of the western Dvina. Our troops are firmly and stubbornly holding their position. 1 “Heavy fighting is occurring in the Lepel region.

“In the direction of Bobruisk, the enemy attemped to cross the Dnieper, but coming under our withering fire fell back with heavy losses to his original positions. “In the direction of Novograd Volynsk our Hoops are stubbornly preventing the advance of strong enemy mechanised forces. 1

“Fierce fighting is also occurring in the direction of Mogilev. An enemy battalion in this sector was cut off and completely annihilated. “Our air force throughout the day carried out concentrated attacks against enemy mechanised units and also operated successfully against enemy aerodromes.”

Claims by the Germans. A German communique claims that Rumanians and Hungarians have captured Cernauti, in the Bultovina, and reached the upper course of , the Dniester. The pursuit of the enemy is continuing on a wide front beyond the Galician river Seret, German army units to the north of the Pripet marshes are fighting toward the Dnieper arid the upper Dvina. German and Finnish troops are progressing according to plan. The Official German News Agency states that German and Rumanian headquarters report, that operations are continuing according to plan. The Buko Vina has been liberated and German and Rumanian forces continue to advance in Bessarabia.

Along the vast eastern front the Red Army, throwing more tanks into the battle, is continuing the counter-at-tacks which were begun at several points on Saturday. The purpose of the Russian counterattacks is believed 1o be to disturb and harass the Germans during the period of reduced German activity, in which Herr Hitler’s generals hoped to refit and consolidate their territorial gains outside proper. The series of counter-attacks to which the Russians referred yesterday are apparently the first on a major scale since the outbreak of war. There is no support for the German claim that broken Soviet armies are retreating along the whole front.

The German thrust toward Moscow remains the most'picturesque feature of the campaign, but immediately the

most important is the move against Leningrad, the capture of which by the Germans would place the Russian Fleet in an untenable position. A' passage in a Moscow communique indicating that the Germans have been forced to take the defensive in the Ostrov sector is, therefore, most significant.

A message from Berlin; last evening said that operations were entering on a now! phase and that violent fighting is to be expected. The message added 1 the claim that the German spearhead had reached the Stalin Line, and said that if the Germans take these positions the way to the heart of Russia will be open to the Gorman troops.

Mention of the Stalin Line may he part of a German propaganda campaign, which is preparing the people of Germany for a longer and more costly campaign than was at first promised. The Stalin. Lino was first mentioned in -German communiques on* Sunday, when it was stated that operations against the line, were progressing- satisfactorily. A hint of what might be meant by the Gormans may have been given by M. Stalin in his speech last Thursday, when he said that large forces of the Russian Army, complete with thousands of ’ tanks and aeroplanes, were now going into action. The German radio has admitted that the Stalin Line will be difficult to conquer and has warned listeners of the strength of its fortifications, which extend, it is believed, to a depth of from 100 to 200'miles.

“We ’Shall not give Germany a breathing spell. We shall light- with ever-increasing ferocity,” declared M. Littovsky, the Soviet Deputy-Foreign Commissar, denying German assertions that 50,000 Russians had deserted, in an interview typical of the buoyant opitimism prevalent in Moscow. “We inflicted losses in the first 12 days averaging 60,000 killed . and wounded a day, and they have since risen. Our guerillas are providing fierce resistance in the German rear.

“The mobilisation of the regular army is still incomplete, hut we are already organising at high speed our reserve army, numbering millions, including all men between 17 and 55.”

Mounting Might of Russia. From several German sources come tributes to the mounting might of Russia. Swiss correspondents in Berlin declare that German specialists are most impressed with the Russian tank forces. The “Neuo Zuercher Zeitung” says the Russians are using tanks ranging from 15 tons to giants with five-centi-metre guns and other 60-tonncrs armed with a howitzer, two lights guns, and several machine-guns. The 60-ton tanks are stated to he practically invulnerable. All the tanks Appear brand new and are cleanly designed and finished and well maintained. They indicate that the Soviet has a vast armament industry and that Russian technical equipment is plentiful. Whenever Soviet- foiees have retreated they have done so in good order, abandoning none of their material.

The Moscow radio, broadcasting to the troops, said: “Russian guns, ma-chine-guns, and artillery are. second to none. Wo have enough' of them to arm the whole country. Our arms are: the answer to the Germans. Gun for gun wo have enough metal to crush the invader, and our designers are working ceaselessly, in evolving, new, powerful weapons.” The Moscow radio alleges that sham wooden tanks have appeared in. German formations in which the first tank only is real. The remainder ■ were wooden and armed only with machineguns. The Finns announce that the Russians raided Helsinki and other towns.

Four British oil experts have arrived in Moscow from London. Three British Army officers have also reached Moscow to join the mission that accompanied Sir Stafford Oipps on his return from England.

The Russian Red Cross has protested to the International Red Cross at Geneva against the German bombing c f ■hospitals on June 22 and 28. The hospitals at Grodno, Minsk and Smolensk, also a hospital train at Lwow were destroyed, although the Red Cross was clearly visible. Casualties Were, inflicted on the staff and patients.