BOTH STANDING FIRM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 288, 17 September 1941, Page 5

BOTH STANDING FIRM.

ODESSA AND LENINGRAD. GERMAN ADVANCE IN UKRAINE (Rec. 10 a.m.) LONDON., Sept. 16. The Russian night communique is slightly more informative than usual and threw a gleam of light on the stern defence of Odessa. Clearly both Odessa and Leningrad stand firm. The Germans, according to their own reports, are now faced with the most formidable of Leningrad’s defences.

Nazi officials in Berlin claiming that advance units in strong force have reached the last belt of defences, admitted that these are even tougher than the outer- and- are held - with amazing stubbornness. Reports that the Germans have reached the suburbs, also that Leningrad is burning, may be discounted. Leningrad may have a few fires as the result of bombs but is not burning. Berlin’s highly coloured descriptions of Leningrad’s defences and the fierce resistance of the Russians can be interpreted to mean that the Nazis are suffering heavy losses. . ' _ A possible new development is indicated in the Berlin claim last night that troops are advancing toward the Crimea. It is stated that after crossing the Dnieper at several points near its Black Sea mouth, they penetrated deeply the Nogayaskaya Steppes north of the Isthmus, linking the Ukraine and the Crimea. The Germans coincidently renewed their air offensive against Black Sea shipping. The Russian communique issued this morning states: ‘-‘During last night our troops were engaged in fighting tji© enemy along the entire front.” The German communique is equally uncommunicative, except for the general claim that the encirclement of Leningrad is closing in. Unofficial German reports that the suburbs of Leningrad have been entered produced the comment here, “what is a suburb?” The so-called suburbs of great cities—for example, London —stretch for many miles outside the city, and imaginative Gorman propaganda may even make such an area still larger to suit their owe needs.—British Official Wireless. GERMANS CLAIM SUCCESSES. CAMPAIGN IN THE UKRAINE. LONDON, September 16. A German communique issued from Hitler’s headquarters on the eastern front claims’ big new successes against the Russians in the Ukraine. It says German troops, supported by the Luftwaffe, have taken more bridgeheads across the lower Dnieper and are striking eastward on a broad front. It admits that stubborn resistance is being encountered. The Germans also claim that railway lines in the Crimea have been bombed and interrupted. The Russians make no reference to these claims. FINLAND AND RUSSIA. THE QUESTION OF PEACE TALKS. WASHINGTON, September 10. A spokesman of the Finnish Legation here said that as Finnish troops had almost reached a lino which they would in future be able to defend ‘ it seems logical for us to cease fighting. I™ statement came only a lew hours after M. Tanner, the Finnish Minister for Trade and Industry, had denied that Finland had begun peace talks with Russia.