HARD STRUGGLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 168, 18 July 1941, Page 7

HARD STRUGGLE

ON BALTIC FRONT

German Sacrifices To Gain

Territory

United Tresis Association.—Copyright,

LONDON, July 17.

There is a general atmosphere of growing confidence in Moscow, says an agency report. The evacuation of women and children has slackened, and workmen have been brought back to their peacetime jobs.

A Vichy correspondent quotes a Government spokesman as saying that the German advance has been virtually halted, tnat the Germans have suffered heavy losses, that the Stalin Line is unbroken, that Russian resistance is growing stronger, and that the Russians are counter-attack-ing over the whole of the central and southern fronts.

An agency message from Moscow says the Russian counter-offensive against the German advanced forces west of the River Dnieper is continuing.

"Throughout Wednesday heavy fighting continued in the Pskov, Smolensk, Bobruisk and NovogradVolynsk sectors," says this morning's Russian communique. "Our air force destroyed enemy motorised units, attacked aircraft on enemy aerodromes and operated against enemy troop concentrations on river crossings. A battalion of enemy tanks retiring from Rogachev was surrounded and destroyed. The crews of six tanks were so exhausted that they were unable to get out without assistance, and examination showed that their weakness was due to systematic malnutrition and physical overstrain."

Reported Pressure on Smolensk

The communique for the first time mentions fighting in the Smolensk sector, apparently indicating a German advance, possibly from Vitebsk through the gap between the Rivers Dvina and Dnieper. The German news agency claims that Smolensk is in German hands, but there is no confirmation of this.

There are many reports of bitter fighting on the Baltic front. The port of Tallinn, capital of Estonia, is reported to be ablaze. The Finnish radio says Russian steamers are busily evacuating troops from Tallinn, which the Germans have encircled.

It is reported from Stockholm that Soviet warships shelled Riga, successfully fighting off an attack bv German dive-bombers.

Finnish military circles confirm that there is stubborn Russian resistance. The Germans have thrown in strong reserves on the Estonian frontier, but have made little progress, the marshes and forests assisting the tenacious Russians.

Enemy Drive on Leningrad

The Germans claim that their troops east of the Estonian frontier are now 130 miles south of Leningrad and are advancing rapidly. They also claim that the city is in danger as a result of a pincers movement by forces from Finland and another attack from the north Estonian area.

The Berlin radio says German aeroplanes twice bombed the railway marshalling yards at Leningrad ana blew up a munitions train.

Another report from Stockholm says the Germans and Finns are preparing a powerful . offensive iiminsif. Manko. the Russian naval !••!at. ih< % ontronfo to the Gulf of I• ill!;in< 1. Heavy artillery duels arc proceeding.