HELD BY RUSSIANS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 251, 5 August 1941, Page 5

HELD BY RUSSIANS

THE ATTACK IN THE UKRAINE. GREAT BATTLE RAGING. SOVIET LEADERS CONFIDENT (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, August 4. The great battle, in tlie Ukraine, Avhere the Germans’ are trying to develop a pincers movement on Jitomir and Kiev, is still raging, Avith tlie Germans being held in this sector as they are on tlie rest of the front. The northern arm of the movement in the Ukraine is in the. direction of Korosten, 50 miles north of Jitomir, and about 90 miles north-west of Kiev, and the southern is in the direction of Byelaya Tserkov, 45 miles south and slightly west of Kiev. After six Aveeks of fighting, Russian morale is high and leaders and people are confidently looking forward to the coming critical month. The authorities in Moscoav realise the importance of the renewed German thrust in the Ukraine recognise that the German thrust in the Ukraine and recognise that the Germans are attempting a pincers movement aimed at the encirclement of Kiev. This would cut the • raihvay running parallel to the Dnieper between central Russia and the Ukrainian mining areas, and also isolate the Nilcolayev granary. The thrust, if successful, Avould also cut off Odessa.

Reuter’s Zurich correspondent quotes a report from Berlin that the Germans are attempting a diversion towards Odessa and that a German and Rumanian force lias crossed the Dniester at several points near the mouth. Troops Avhich have crossed the river near Kishinev are stated to be Avheeling to the south-east to join the thrust. Powerful Air Forces Near Kiev. The Germans say that Soviet troops are fiercely counter-attacking west of Kiev in an effort to relieve encircled units.. Both sides speak of operations by powerful air forces in this sector. “Much blood and some progress,” summarised yesterday’s reports to Berlin. Dispatch after dispatch emphasised the bitterness of the Russian resistance. The Germans claim that the Russian losses are extremely heavy, but evidence is not lacking that heavy sacrifices are being exacted .from the Germans. The “Voelkischer Beobachter” declared that Germany had found in the Red Army an enemy Avho battled will dogged tenacity, sur passing all previous opponents in fighting temper. The latest Russian communique issued to-day, says: “During last night fighting continued against the enemy in the directions of Smolensk, Korosten, and Byelaya Tserkov, and also on the Estonian sector of the front. Oh the remaining front there Avere no significant changes.” Marshal Budenny, the Soviet Com-mandeAin-Chief in the Ukraine, has reported that the Germans have flung a wide arc round Kiev. It leads from Korosten in the north to the railway junction at Fastov, and then southeast to Byelaya Tserkov. It is in the hilly country round Byelaya Tserkov that the Germans are making their most dangerous thrust. The Soviet High Command was not taken by -surprise by the uoav German pincers dm 7 e. Strong panzer units are said to be making these' thrusts Avliile the Red Army still holds the mass oi German infantry 'BO miles Avest of Kiev round Jitomir. Apparently the Germans, finding the direct approach to Kiev too firmly defended, .opened converging lines north and south of the main road. Moscoav, lioaa-cvcF, is confident that Marshal Budenny can cope Avith. the-new columns. The Finnish Sector. On the northern front, in the Finnish sector the Russians have launched heavy blows against the enemy. The Russians say that counter-attacks have lieen launched against the Finnish forces north of Lake Ladoga, and Finnish sources admit that the country at the northern tip of the lake is still in Russian hands On the Estonian front the Germans speak of the destruction of Russian units east of Lake Peipus. The correspondent of “The Times” on the German frontier says that, recognising that the completion of Russian mobilisation has made a long war almost a certainty, the Germans are confronted ivitli the necessity of modernising the entire Russian transport system Avithin that section of Russia they have now occupied.. The task of driving Avithout a pause across Avretched roads, harassed by snipers and saboteurs, is imposing a terrific' physical and nervous strain Avhich is causing an enormous Avastage of drivers and vehicles. The solution of the transport problem depends substantially on rebuilding the roads, for Avhich hundreds qi thousands of pioneers have recently gone oastAvard. The Germans are also tackling the task of adapting the Russian broad raihvay gauge to German rolling-stock. The “Soviet War Noavs,” published in London, states that at least 11 U-boats, nine destroyers, .12 transports, three tankers, throe patrol ships, several monitors and barges, and one munition ship, have so lar been sunk in the Baltic and Black Seas by Soviet Avarsliips and aeroplanes. * , 'lhe Moscow neAvspapcr “IzA-estia” refers to a possible uoav -phase ih the violent battle uoav raging on the central front, ft does not- claim that the Germans are smashed. They, are still strong, it says, in spite of huge losses in men and material, and may be preparing to invade- uoav territories. But fresh Russians forces are still going forAvard into the line with unlimited valour and determination.

“We are not hurrying with the statement that the Fascist army has boon smashed,” it declares. “But the blitzkrieg trump has been beaten, and our resistance is growing and gaining strength ” » The German forces on the Russian front are reported to he running short of ammunition. A circular order captured by the Russians tells unit commanders to use ammunition sparingly as the transport of supplies to the front involves great difficulties. An example of the brilliant fighting qualities of the Russian guerillas is given in a Moscow message. At one

point Gorman troops had crossed a river by moans of pontoon bridges. While defenders drove them back toward the river ibnnk, guerillas, operating behind the German lines, blew up a dam further upstream. The rushing waters swept away the pontoons and the Germans found themselves cut off. Four hundred Germans were either killed or drowned in the river, 40 lorries were put out of action and the rest captured. .Istanbul reports describe 18 lo '2O train-loads of German wounded being brought hack from the Russian front. Reports from the front state that the general commanding the 16th German Motorised Division was killed m action while the Gormans were resisting a Russian counter-attack, in which half the Nazi effectives were destroyed. The loealitv is not stated.

Polish troops, held prisoner in Russia, are how being released and will form a Polish Legion on Russian soil to fight against Germany. The Moscow radio claimed that a fake convoy arrived at the Skoda armament works in Czechoslovakia, collected 30.0QQ rifles and decamped.