ODESSA POSITION REMAINS OBSCURE

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

ODESSA POSITION REMAINS OBSCURE

RIVAL CLAIMS

Encirclement Is " German Wishful Thinking: *'

Rec 1 pm. 1-OXDON. Aug. 14. hilc the newspaper I'ravda thai there arc no important chance-; in ihe disposition of the Russian t loops because the Red Army s mighty resistance is smashing the German offensive. Hitler's headquarters and a!<o the iSerman radio and news agency to-day put out claims of success which cannot he ignored in view of the obvious difficulties m which ihe thrusts in the Ukraine have placed Marshal Budennv's forces.

The German High Command, referring to the capture of the mining centre of Krivoirog. which yearly produces over 19.000.000 tons of high crade ore says that Russia thereby has s iffered a snattering economic ami military blow.

M. 1 .ozovsky. Soviet Ministry of Information spokesman, characteristically unperturbed when mmmenting on ihe German claim thai Odessa is encircled. declared: It i« only the German's wishful thinking. When the Russian communiques say there is nothing important happening at the front, this means that the Germans have been halted and are not advancing anywhere."' he added.

Asked what significance attached to the evacuation of Smolensk. M. Lozovsky said: "Our tactics aim to exact the highest price for each vard of territory. Also we would not "permit encirclement of the Red Armv. Every square yard of Smolensk soil i- soaked with the blood of mamGermans. Encirclement Avoided Earlier messages said Marshal Budenny. the Soviet 'commander in the Ukraine, has succeeded in avoiding encirclement by the German thrust, while at the same time leaving behind a force approaching 100.000 men to defend isolated Odessa, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Budennys main armies, reinforced by 30 crack Soviet divisions hitherto held in reserve, now stand regrouped solidly and in good order eastward of Uman, on the east bank of the River Bug. where thev are offering increasing resistance io the German southern drive.

The Moscow communique savs fighting continued during Wednesday in the directions of Kakisalmi (Lake Ladoga'. Starsaya Russa <south of Lake Ilment." Smolensk and Byelaya Tserkov. in the Ukraine. Russian troops evacuated Smolensk a few days ago.

"Nothing of importance occurred on the front during the night," states the latest Russian communique. "The Russian Air Force, in co-operation with the land forces, continued to bomb enemy mechanised units, infantrv and aerodromes."

Mention of Starsaya Russa in the Soviet communique as a new area of fighting suggests that the Germans have made a 40-mile drive from Soltsa since fighting was first announced there on Mondav last. It also means that the Germans have pushed forward 90 miles since the battle south-west from first developed at Pskov.

The Berlin military spokesman at a Press conference said: "British propaganda is stating that the German blitzkrieg is a complete failure. It is therefore necessary to make it clear that German strategy never knew the term blitzkrieg which is an invention of propagandists.''

Smolensk Xo lyongrr l\rful

Reuter's Moscow correspondent says that when abandoned by the Russians Smolensk was no longer practicable as a base for operations. The Germans have tended to dig in in this heavily contested fluid sector of the great battlefront. The invaders under present conditions would face a hopeless task if thev tried to advance along tin? motor highway between Smolensk and Moscow.

Because Lake llmen and marshv country between Lake llmen and Leningrad are obstructions in the path to Leningrad, the German thrust at Slaraya Russa is clearly not aimed at the capture of Leningrad. The Germans are evidentlv trying to cut the Leningrad-Moscow railway, but unless they achieve a striking success they may be lured into difficult country which a few weeks hence will become almost impassable.

The so far have not occupied any place of the least importance in this sector, but with the German advances in the north and the drive in the Ukraine it is undeniable that the Russians are passing through a difficult )>eriod which everyone in Moscow anticipated for this month.

The fighting powers of the Soviet armies, nevertheless, are still unimpaired. They are preparing for a long w inter campaign.