THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 253, 7 August 1941, Page 6

THE RUSSIAN FRONT.

THE THRUST AT KHOLM. TWO NATURAL BARRIERS. HITLER AND GENERALS DIFFER. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Bee. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON. Aug. 6. The Moscow radio reported that several groups of German planes attacked Moscow last night. Only single planes broke through the defences and bombs were dropped at random outside tlie city. The damage was not important. Five raiders wero shot down.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent at Stockholm says that the Nazi offensive in the area around Kholm, the German capture of which is not confirmed, should be welcomed as an admission that the Russians are correct in claiming that a stalemate had been reached everywhere else along the huge battlefront. It is believed it is still Hitler’s dream to end the campaign by occupying Moscow from Smolensk, but there is evidence that his generals are trying to force an alteration in his plans. The thrust at Kholm probably results from the generals’ pressure. It may see too early to say whether the Germans will find a weak spot at Kholm, but there is good authority for saying that they will not. Kholm lies between t\yo natural barriers, the river Lovat and the.Valdai heights. Even if the Germans force the well-defended Lovat they will still have to scale the heights, which should delay them sufficiently to enable Voroshilov to rush up reinforcements. The failure of the German High Command to press the offensive toward Odessa is believed to. indicate that the. Hungarians and Rumanians are not* anxious to tackle the Soviet mechanised forces without considerable German support, which Berlin cannot afford to give at present.

THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUE.

(Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 6. A Russian communique issued nt midday states : “During last night our troops continued to wage the battle with the enemy in the Kholm, Smolensk and Byelaya. Tserkov directions on the Estonian sector of the front. There were no large-scale military operations. “In the Baltic Sea an enemy transport with troops and ammunition was slink by .one of oUr submarines. “Our Air Force continued to inflict blows upon motorised mechanised units, infantry and artillery of the enemy and oil the Air Force at his aerodromes.”—British Official Wireless.