GERMAN FLIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 282, 10 September 1941, Page 5

GERMAN FLIGHT

EIGHT DIVISIONS SMASHED. LOSS OF DESPERATE BATTLE. STRUGGLE FOR 26 DAYS ENDS. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, iSept. 9. Moscow points out that the recapture of Yelnia is of secondary interest compared with the fact that eight German divisions were smashed during the, struggle around the town. “ Pravda’s” special correspon-i dent at the front describes the great German retreat westward from Yelnia, declaring that it is better describable as a flight in which the survivors of a great battle fell back in panic and disorder. He adds that the Germans rushed to Yelnia after capturing Smolensk itn Juty,, strewing the entire district with corpses in a desperate battle, believing that Yelnia would be a good place

from which to launch the final drive against Moscow. Since July the Germans have not advanced a single step. The Russian Command began careful preparation to drive out

the invaders and calculated the counter-attack methodically and accurately, for which reason it

was irresistible when launched.

The 10th German Tank Division was smashed within a few days, after which the Russians wiped out the 15tli Division. The Germans assumed the defensive. They bifid commanding heights, on which they established strong-points, but the Russians inflicted enormous casualties, particularly with artillery. The Germans brought up fresh divisions, disregarding the fact that? the whole district was virtually,a mincing machine for German regiments. The battered divisions withdrew to the rear, but the Germans clung to their positions. The Russian counter-attack was intensified in the first days of September and by last Thursday six infantry divisions, . also one motorised and one SJS. division, had been smashed..

The entire German \ formation, amounting to a substantial army group, then found itself almost • surrounded. Its communication with tho rear was maintained through a neck scarcely eight kilometres wide, but this was constantly under Russian artillery fire and became carpeted with Gorman dead.

The Germans finally wavered and began a disorderly retreat under cover of darkness on Thursday night, abandoning groat quantities of material. The special correspondent of tho “Isvestia” estimates that the Germans lost between 60 and 70 per cent, of their effectives in killed, wounded and prisoners during the’ 26-day battle.