ENEMY OILFIELDS HEAVILY BOMBARDED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1941, Page 7

ENEMY OILFIELDS HEAVILY BOMBARDED

EASTERN FRONT Britain Admires Russia's Solid Resistance

U.P.A. and British Wireless. Roc. 1 p.m. LONDON, July 16. The midday Russian communique states that last night fighting was continued in the Pskov, Porkhov, Polotsk and Vitebsk directions. In other directions and sectors of the front no major engagements took place. No substantial changes occurred in the position of the troops. During the night the Russian air force acted against enemy motorised and mechanised troops, and continued bombing the Ploestio oilfields. Large tires broke out as a result of the bombardment.

Competent military observers in I-ondon believe that the Germans, after nearly four weeks'■ fighting on the eastern front, have achieved nothing that, can be reckoned as a final or even a substantial advantage. The observers add that unless the Germans can go considerably further their onslaught will not be worth the expenditure of men and machines they have made.

"It is only fair to say that there is deep admiration here for the Russians in the light they have already put up," says one observer.

A Moscow communique issued this morning says: "In the Psvok-Porkhov sector, at the southern end of Lake Peipus, our troops surrounded enemy motorised and mechanised, units and destroyed them section by section, capturing a large number of tanks and lorries and all kinds of arms. The remainder of the enemy were hurled back to the west. There was fierce fighting in the Vitebsk sector, west of Smolensk, against motorised and mechanised enemy units which are vainly endeavouring to penetrate to the eastward (toward Moscow). Fighting continues, with heavy losses on both sides.

"In the Novograd-Volynsk sector (where the Germans are driving for Kiev) our troops are fighting stubbornly, counteracting tne enemy's attempts to penetrate to the eastward to join his tanks, which are in a difficult position. .Air Rattle over Soviet 'Droine "Our air force on Tuesday operated against enemy motorised and mechanised units, destroyed enemy aircraft on the ground, bombed the Ploesti oilfields in Rumania and also warehouses at Sulina and transports in the Tulcca district. In an aerial battle over one of our aerodromes seven enemy bombers and ten fighters were destroyed by our fighters and anti-aircraft guns. We lost two fighters. The enemy lost 55 aeroplanes in air combats and 2 1 of ours are missing.

"A I'-boat. was destroyed while crossing a minefield in the Gulf of Finland. A Russian destroyer which was attacked by bombers in the Gulf of Riga shot down two enemy aeroplanes.''