FALL OF ODESSA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 7, 20 October 1941, Page 5

FALL OF ODESSA.

RUSSIAN EVACUATION BY SEA. APPROACHES HELD TWO MONTHS (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, October 18.8 While the evacuation of Odessa is announced in a Russian communique received early to-day, the Moscow radio sends better news in the recapture of Orel, about 200 miles south j of the capital, and the town of “P” in the Leningrad sector. The communique states: “Yesterday our troops continued fierce fighting along the entire front, and particularly in the central sector, where units of the Red Army repulsed several heavy attacks by enemy troops. “On Thursday, 28 enemy planes were destroyed. Our losses were 17. On Friday, near Moscow, 14 German planes were shot clown. “The evacuation of Soviet troops from Odessa, organised by the High Command of the Red Army during the last eight clays, has been accomplished in perfect order. Our troops, having fulfilled their task in the Odessa district, have been transferred by the navy to other sectors of the front in the best order and without loss. “Rumours spread by the German radio that the Soviet troops were compelled to evacuate Odessa, under pressure by German and Rumanian troops are without foundation. The evacuation was carried out without pressure from German and Rumanian troops. Therefore, the statement of the German High Command about the capture of weapons in Odessa is an empty boast. City An Inferno. German sources describe scenes resembling Dunkirk in Odessa harbour as Russian troopships and warships evacuated the garrison from tlio city, which the defenders turned into a blazing inferno by firing all industrial buildings and dynamiting quays and harbour works. The Black Sea Fleet and lip,liters from the Crimea fought out fierce battles with Stukas diving to attack . the crowded ships. It is officially announced in Moscow that the battle for the approaches of Odessa lasted two months, during which the heroic defenders tied up important enemy forces and destroyed a vast quantity of enemy equipment and manpower. * The evacuation was carried out with the object of strengthen-' ing resistance in other sectors. The Russians fought uiitil the last day on the approaches to Odessa, thus permitting an orderly evacuation. All the Russians arms, ammunition, and equipment were removed, and the Russian troops sustained no losses. Describing the recapture of Orel, the .Moscow radio said that during the last three days the strength of the German forces here- had obviously been diminished. After the capture of the town by the Germans, their 3rd and 4th Tank Divisions lost 150 tanks, 2000 officers and men, 100 guns, 200 lorries, and much material. The Gorman advance was thus considerably slowed down. Nevertheless,. they were able to (bring up reinforcements after regrouping their forces. Battle at Leningrad. “During Tuesday night the Russians attacked Orel from two directions. The Germans were unable to organise their resistance and many officers and soldiers were running into the streets in their underclothes. In the morning the town was cleared of the Germans." The same report, states that between Tuesday and Thursday a Soviet air squadron shot down 38 German aeroplanes in this sector and destroyed 41 tanks, 67 transport buses, seven armoured cars, and 11 lorries. The 'Moscow radio this morning atso reports violent fighting at the approaches to Leningrad against the flanks of the German forces. After three days’ fierce figthing, Soviet troops occupied the railway station of “.P,” which had been held for months past by the Germans, who had erected pill-boxes strongly reinforced by timber.

The railway station was taken in an encircling movement from three directions with the support of the air force. Several thousand German officers and men were killed, and the staff of a German battalion was taken prisoner. Important documents fell into Russian hands. The 412th Regiment of the 227th German Infantry Division was annihilated with its tanks. Strong fortifications are now being erected in the town.—British Official Wireless.