DANGEROUS PUSH TOWARDS LENINGRAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1941, Page 7

DANGEROUS PUSH TOWARDS LENINGRAD

NEW SPEARHEAD

Germans Claim Four Gaps In Russian Front

Uaitcd Press Association.-Copyright Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, July 14 iise are mg towards Leningrad. aavancthl h |^f a r^ n agency also ~' laims th at tne advance continues irresistiblv ££ ar & Smolensk, across thf Dvina and Dnieper Rivers, with heavy Russian losses. The Stalin Line has been breached in four places, it is claimed, as follows: (l) \ t Lake Peipus (2) near Vitebsk, (sf west of Kiev (4) at the bend in the centre of the Dniester. Further penetration occurred at Opochka, where German shock troops captured two Russian forts and destroyed one by a mine making a breach of 500 yds which reinforcements widened while shock troops poured in.

Swinging In Russian Reserves

It is emphasised in London that the immediate results of these renewed thrusts will largely depend on the Russians' ability to maintain organisation and transport for swinging reserves wherever thev are most needed. Mobility is all-imoortant

The Germans claim that infantry marches of 18 miles a day are not unusual, and the Luftwaffe is apparently doing its utmost to hinder Russian movement both to the front and behind the battle lines The cutting of the LeningradSmolensk railway at several places is claimed. Swarms of Aircraft The Germans use swarms of fighters to protect their panzer columns, and also call up their bombers when they encounter strong artillery positions. The Russians similarly are employing large air formations, bombing and machine-gunning German troops as they struggle on through the "scorched earth," where any moment may bring death from guerillas' bullets or a lightning Russian counterthrust. Russian air sweeps have penetrated far behind the invaders' lines, from Finland to the Black Sea.

The Finnish High Command communique says: "Our troops attacked strongly fortified Russian positions near Lake Ladoga and Karelia, and broke through at several points, despite stubborn resistance. A penetration at some places of 50 miles was made, and the advance continues."

The Berlin radio claims that German destroyers have sunk several Russian merchantmen in the Baltic, while the Russians report the destruction of two U-boats lying in wait for warships and convoys.

To-day's Moscow communique claims a success in the western sectors, where 100 enemy tanks have been destroyed, and also in the south-western sector, where a great number of guns and ammunition have been captured. It also claims to have sunk two destroyers and 13 transports in the Baltic.