HITLER S MOVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 192, 15 August 1941, Page 7

HITLER S MOVE

ON ODESSA FRONT

Believed Nazi Ruse To Deceive

Russian Leaders

Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON. Aug. 14

The announcement that Hitler had established his headquarters with General Rundsteot "somewhere in the Ukraine." is the first hint of the Fuehrer s w hereabouts since the outbreak of the Russo-German war.

The Daily Telegraph Stockholm coi i espondent says this revelation is intended to persuade the outside world that the I. kraine offensive constitutes the Germans' decisive blow against Russia, on which the invaders pin their hopes of victory, but the purpose of the announcement eoes deeper. Even if the Germans have reached Krivoirog. it is certain that sooner or later Runclstedt's armies will be halted through failure of supplies, al?>o the necessitv to repair the battered, over-strained' machines

When that situation is reached the Germans hope to he able to launch new drives against Leningrad and Moscow, the correspondent states Meanwhile the German High Command aims to convince the Russians that the whole strength of the invaders is concentrated in the last desperate ef.'ori to break through the Ukraine.

In order to heighten the illusion Hitler's headquarters were transferred to the southern front, while all propaganda reports strive to keep up the impression that victorv is imminent.

The Soviet leaders are fully awake to what they describe as a clumsy attempt to induce the Russians to weaken other sectors bv sending troops southward.

A special German communique states that the Soviet defence in western Ukraine is approaching a complete collapse. Rumanian troops encircle Odessa, it is claimed, and Hungarians outflank N'ikolavev from the west and the east. Westward of the Bug River strong enemv formations are approaching annihilation.

German mobile units seized the iron ore works at Krivoirog. producing G1 per cent of Russia's iron ore. the communique alleges.

Rome radio announced that Hitler lias moved his headquarters to the Ukraine.

A Finnish communique says that, under pressure from their troops the enemy, trapped inside rings of encirclement on the coast of Lake Ladoga, is fighting to the last man and in some places is attempting to rescue troops from some ports on Lake Ladoga.

It is officially denied in Budapest that the Russians have destroyed the Cernavoda bridge across the Danube. It is claimed that onlv small fragments of bombs hit the bridge, which is still intact and is carrving normal train traffic.

The Daily Herald Moscow correspondent says a captured German High Command order tells German troops, in addition to robbing the dead, that they should take footwear from Russian prisoners. The order is dated July iri and is numbered 902/3. It adds: "In occupied regions it is necessary to seize all leather goods, especially marching footwear.''

latest Co mm uniques

The latest Moscow communique states: "Last night nothing of importance occurred on any front. The air force co-operated with land troops and continued its attack against motorised units and mechanised infantry and artillery."

The German communique says: "German and Rumanian troops "in their further unceasing pursuit have reached the coast of the Black Sea between Odessa and the Bug estuary. Operations on the rest of the front are proceeding according to plan. The Luftwaffe on Wednesday inflicted heavy blows on transport ships on the coast off Odessa and Nokolayev which were prepared for the flight of Soviet troops. Two transports were destroyed and five other large ships were severelv damaged."