RUSSIAN ADVANCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 283, 11 September 1941, Page 5

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

IMPORTANT REPERCUSSIONS.

THE BATTLE FOR LENINGRAD NAZIS ANXIOUS FOR DECISION (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, September 10. Russian forces under Marshal Timoshenko are following up the counteroffensive in the central sector in which they recaptured Elnya, 50 miles south-east of Smolensk, and some 50 villages. M. Lozovsky, of the Soviet Information Bureau, said last night that the smashing of eight German divisions in this battle was of much more than local importance, for it had had important repercussions on other parts of the front. When he. was asked if a report that Smolensk had been retaken was true, M. Lozovsky replied: “The answer will be given in due course.” London comment on the Russian counter-offensive declares that since, time is a factor of vital importance to the Germans, any set-back at one of the pivots of the front may have significant results. Position at Gomel Affected. I The set-back at Elyna, says one report, is bound to affect the German position considerably in the Gomel area, because it will compel a further diversion of reserves from: the operations against the Russians who are threatening to pin the Germans against, or drive them into, the Pripet marshes by advancing! along the Iput valley. There has been no news of any change in the battle for Leningrad since the Germans claimed the capture of Schluesselburg, 25 miles due east. M. Lozovsky told journalists last night that he had no information on on this claim.

According to dispatches from Stockholm, officials in Berlin admit that the German High Command is anxious to conclude the battle for Leningrad as quickly as possible “in order to release troops urgently wanted for tasks elsewhere before the winter sets in.” These officials claim that the final phase in the fate of Leningrad began with the capture of' Schluesselburg, but they added that the date of Leningrad’s fall would depend on the methods chosen by the Germans. If the surrender of the city was delayed, they would be obliged to resort to bombing such as reduced Warsaw and Rotterdam to ruins.-

Heavy Fighting at Leningrad.

Although the situation in the Leningrad sector holds the most serious possibilities for the Russians, Marshal Timoshenko’s success in the Elnya area at the moment “holds the stage.” The Germans themselves optimistically reported heavy fighting in the Elnya region at the end of August, and the Russian success can be regarded as at least of very great local importance. i

It is the most important Russian success since Marshal Timoshenko halted the Germans between Smolensk and Vyazma, and so far it constitutes the highest development in the Russian offensive south of Smolensk, which began last month. Last night a German military spokesman declared: “German troops have completely cut off Leningrad from Lake Ladoga. Hence it may be assumed that the Germans have made contact with the Finns at the Karelian Isthmus.” A German communique yesterday reported heavy fighting invthe Leningrad sector, and repeated the earlier claim to have encircled the city by the capture of Schluesselburg. The ‘Moscow radio reports day and night air fighting on a huge scale. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that air superiority is the chief factor in German progress in the Leningrad area as elsewhere. The Germans have never had exclusive use of the air in the Leningrad region hut in spite of their losses they massed such numbers of bombers that they were enabled literally to blast their way forward. Leningrad Receives Supplies.

Although the Germans claim to have placed an iron rmg round Leningrad, they have been forced to admit that Marshal Voroshilov is still getting supplies to the city. In a broacast from Norway it was stated that a Russian force which was in the ring said to be encircling Leningrad had smashed its way out and had joined up with the main body of troops.

Last night’s Russian communique states: “During Tuesday our troops were engaged in stubborn fighting along the entire front. The air force continued to deal heavy blows to enemy ground forces and to destroy aeroplanes on enemy aerodromes. “On Sunday 71 enemy aeroplanes were destroyed on the ground or in aerial combat and by anti-aircraft lire. Our losses were 24 aeroplanes. On September 9, two Geiman reconnaissance aeroplanes were brought down near Moscow.’’

The Soviet communique issued at midday yesterday confined itself to the statement: “During- Monday night our troops continued to engage the enemy along the whole front.” No mention was made of the German claims to have captured Schluesselburg, and there is no confirmation of the accuracy of such claims in London.

The latest Hungarian communique states that Russians on the Ukraine front are using clouds of artificial fog in counter-attacks across the Dnieper in bayges.

The attackers of Odessa ruefully admit that the defences are exehnplarily organised. The Rumanians, in spite of vigorous support by the Luftwaffe, are compelled to fight for every yard. Round Odessa, the Russians have

inflicted terrible losses on the Rumanians, 20,000 officers and men of four Guards divisions having been killed or wounded in the last 10 days.

Reports from Berlin to Stockholm say that the German drive in this region has been brought to a standstill.

M. Lozovsky said that actions in the Odessa regions indicated increasing resistance by the Red Army. Of the 16 Rumanian divisions involved in the fighting round Odessa, half of them had already been shattered. Behind the lines, guerilla bands are showing increased activity. In one German-occupied town, a band of Russians reached' an ammunition dump and set it on fire, The dump blew up.