NEW GERMAN MOVE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 5

NEW GERMAN MOVE

THRUST IN THE UKRAINE, POSSIBLE THIRD OFFENSIVE. INVADERS HELD ELSEWHERE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, August S. To-day marked the beginning of the seventh week of the German offensive against Russia. The latest Russian communique indicates that the German drives against Leningrad and Moscow are being held. Only in the Ukraine does there appear to he any alteration, and the Russian communique dealing with this sector reports fighting at two places not mentioned before. One is Byeiaya Tserkhov, 45 miles south-east of Kiev, and the other is Korostysliev, 50 miles north of Zhitomir, where fierce fighting lias been in progress.

Until last night, all reports indicated that the second phase of the great German thrust had been brought to a standstill. An Ankara correspondent says the new German move in the Ukraine may he the beginning of a third offensive, hut there is no indication yet that this is general along the whole line.

Dealing with land operations elsewhere, the Russian communique says the enemy was engaged at Porkhov and Smolensk, and in . the Estonian sector. Other engagements were local. Germans Retain Initiative. It is .pointed out in competent circles in London that the initiative still rests with the Germans. Tho Russian counter-attacks, although they have been extremely successful, are local defensive measures. There is no suggestion of a counter-offensive. The main object of such attacks is to stop the German advance because that must he accomplished before tho Russians tliemselvqs successfully undertake a counter-offensive. No dbubt a certain amount of time, in fact, some weeks, would he needed for sifeh preparations by the Russian forces, -but it is thought probable that the Russian effort might be timed to take place before the Germans can organise their great onslaught. ' M. Lozovsky, of tho Soviet Information'’ Bureau, issued a communique in which he said: “We have smashed Germany’s crack shock divisions, The Germans are hogged and are suffering immense losses of men and material. The fighting every day hastens the defeat of Germany and German-Axis troops on the Russian front, estimated at 24S divisions, including 30 armoured divisipns. Hitler’s time-table envisaged the capture of Moscow in three weeks. The . German casualties, in six weeks exceed 1,500,000, with desertions increasing. German Convoy Attacked. “Russian naval and air forces attacked a German convoy in the Baltic, comprising eight transports and five destroyers. One transport anti one destroyer wore sunk, and one transport and two destroyers were damaged and forced to turn hack. “The Russian Air Force dealt heavy blows at German panzer units, infantry and artillery. Forty-one enemy aeroplanes were i shot down oil Friday for the loss of 19.” '

A Finnish communique says Russian ships attempted to shell the northern and eastern coasts of Lake Ladoga and also the island of Mansinaari, otf Salmi. They were driven back. ' The communique claim's that three Russian transports were sunk- oft' Hanko by artillery. The air force again interrupted the Murmansk railway at several places and also sank a 1000-ton ship. A Berlin communique claims that German troops struck deep into the enemy retreating in the Ukraine. A further great" battle of annihilation is proceeding south of Kiev. The Soviet divisions encircled east of Smolensk have been further compressed. The Luftwaffe on Friday night bombed public utility works' and military installations at Moscow, and railway junctions on the upper Volga, and in the southern Ukraine.

Moscow reports that only three or four German aeroplanes succeeded in penetrating: Moscow’s defences, dropping incendiaries which were quickly dealt with. Two raiders were sliou down. Heavy German Casualties. Scores of Russian technicians, recalled from China, where they directed Chungking’s successful “ scorched earth” policy and guerilla warfare against the Japanese, are loading Russia’s army of saboteurs 1 and guerillas behind the German lines. Russian counter-attacks wiped out one German regiment alter another on key fronts, where the thrusts are aimed at Leningrad, Mocow, and Kiev, states a Moscow report. Fresh Soviet troops are being thrown into the battle and each hour the counter-attacks gain in ferocity and violence. The /German 137th Infantry Division was encircled and destroyed. Letters found at a captured Gorman postal station revealed the severity ol the enemy’s losses, and pessimism regarding a German victory.

Reports in London suggest that the Russian hold-up of the Germans in the south has enabled the Ukrainian wheat harvest to he brought in successfully, and German military experts are stated to have admitted that the “Ukrainian harvest will have to he abandoned until next year.”

At the same time, neutral reports speak of appalling German casualties, with hospitals crowded and loaded trains arriving in Gorman towns in a steady procession filled with wounded soldiers. High foes are being offereci Swedish doctors to cross into Germany for a few months, even weeks, to deal with the casualties.

The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper “Social Demooraton” says military circles in Berlin are discussing the possibility of Soviet submarines being moved from the Baltic to Murmansk and other northern ports through the Stalin Canal. It is.thought probable they will seek British bases in order to collaborate with the British Navy in the north Atlantic.