Leningrad Seriously Threatened

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 7

Leningrad Seriously Threatened

(toitso rams assocutiok— comioar.) (Received August 22, 1.30 a.nn.) LONDON, August 21.

A stirring appeal to the people of Leningrad to defend their city to the last came from Marshal Voroshilov, the Soviet Commander-in-Chief on the northern front, as the Germans yesterday intensified their two-pronged drive toward the city. The thrust from the west along the main railway line from Tallinn has reached a point east from Kingisepp, while the push from the south centres on Novgorod and Staraya Russa.

The Russian overnight and midday communiques reported that fierce fighting was continuing in these sectors, but the Germans so far have made no claims of fresh progress in either thrust.

In addition to the Kingisepp and Novgorod areas, the Russians speak of fierce fighting in the directions of Homel, between Smolensk and Kiev, and Odessa. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” declares that although Marshal Voroshilov has good prospects of repelling the determined German attacks, It is futile to defty that Leningrad'is seriously threatened, but the position is more critical for the Germans here as a further check would be .tantamount to a stalemate.

This would mean a Russian victory, because the Germans could scarcely hope to make another adequate offensive this year.

The Germans’ progress towards Leningrad is unimpressive if measured in miles, -especially when the excellence of the roads in the Baltic States is considered, thanks to which the Germans can rapidly -accumulate a strong force for striking against selected -‘points just across the Russian frontier. The Germans are expected to'press much nearer Leningrad from the Klngisepp-Novgorod line, adds the correspondent, but the last 50 miles round Leningrad \ : arc among the strongest fortified parts of Russia and * are bound seriously to trouble the Germans, even if they ever succeed lit traversing them. A message to the Vichy News Agency from the Soviet frontier says that tht Russian divisions defending Odessa are being effectively supplied by sea. The Germans, it is said, have not crossed the Dnieper at any point in the lower reaches, and the only place at which they have succeeded in crossing is north of Kiev.

In his appeal to the people of Leningrad, Marshal Voroshilov said: "The enemy Is attempting to penetrate Leningrad. He wants to destroy our houses, factories and workshops, rob our people and shed the blood of innocent victims.

"He also, wants to kill the peaceful population and wreck our country’s freedom. This shall not be. The enemy shall never set foot in our beautiful city.

"The Red Army is gallantly defending; the" city’s approaches, the Red Fleet and the Red Air Force are inflicting blows on the enemy, but the enemy.is hot yet broken. ."Many people in Leningrad have comrades fighting at the front. We are addressing them. They must follow the example of their comrades at the front. You must inspire them with your spirit of fearlessness, of loyalty to the nation, and courage. “We will form new detachments of the national militia to help the Red Army. They will prepare for the defence of Leningrad. These detachments must immediately start learning new duties. All workers in Leningrad must fully support the new detachments. “Women, inspire husbands, your sons, and your brothers. Workers of Leningrad, produce more and more ammunition and arms and thereby assist in forging our victory. Let nothing stop you, neither bombing nor other difficulties. Prepare for yet more abominable measures by the Hitlerite bandits.

Lessons at Smolensk

Confidence in Victory

‘‘We can. and will stop the bloody hdrde which 1? threatening the Soviet 1 people. Let us all rise up in defence of our city. Children of freedom and honour, it is our sacred duty and we will fulfil it. With our Bolshevik organisation, discipline, and courage, we Will crush tfie detested enemy. Stand Aim to the end. At the risk of our JiYcs we fight to destroy the enemy. Diath to the bloody Fascist German Jobbers. Victory will be ours," ih fierce fighting round Homel the Germans claim to have inflicted heavy *®uajties on the Russians and to have captured many thousands of prisoners and material. They report that the town is in their hands. The Russians, however, state that the town is still In Russian hands, and that fierce counter-attacks are being launched. .Marshal Timoshenko, resisting the wmt towards Homel, is endeavouring tor foil what appears to be an attempt W outflank the Dnieper line for a southward blow at Marshal Budenny’s ■ Tear,

A‘ special German High. Command Communique states that Russian forces Were heavily defeated round Homel •3d also north of Homel, with the Capture of 78,000 prisoners. ■The Berlin radio last night claimed wet Russian attacks on the central «ont had been bloodily repulsed.

Local Offensive

The “Red Star,” the Soviet Army’s newspaper, reports a strong Russian local offensive on the central sector, where the attack began four days ago and is still being maintained. It says that the Germans have been pushed hack through five villages. The Russians landed tanks carrying infantry behind the Germans, after Which they attacked the invaders from the front and rear. -Referring to the same engagement, Jne-Tass Nfews Agency says the Ger- - jnans had strongly fortified positions, including trenches, round the villages, soviet aircraft and artillery rained ®o»bs and shells against the Germans, WWW Soviet Infantry pressed on natast intense fire from machine* ■ • ff}** mine-throwers. The Germans P«a 'Westwards after fierce fighting, -tearing the grounfstriwn with their . Wad. is announced In Moscow that a ■i «W«an army under General Boldin rejoined Marshal Timoshenko’s rjajn forces on the central front, after y. gWI surrounded for 45. days west of V/Wslt. - This army fought bitterly a speil gnd finally hacked .??:w£ough 'the, German lines. J i'lfflMnost . vital and perhaps mqst ftoSrT?®! of the struggles ,on the, vast ;[£*tetem Front Is still the battle raging iftwest of the Dnieper bend, according Moscow correspondent in a received early yesterday, fe#we describes the scene of the flghtthe area eastof apd.

CRITICAL PERIOD IN GERMAN DRIVE

Knvoi Rog, and adds that the Germans are clearly seeking to trap Marshal Budenny’s army, but the Soviet generals are aware of this aim. It is, therefore, certain that their first consideration will be the preservation of their forces, even at the cost of giving up the important industrial area west of the Dnieper. More reliable news is necessary before the position in the lower Dnieper can properly be assessed. The German thrust against Odessa suggests that the invaders dislike the idea of this port becoming a Soviet "Tobruk.” It remains to be seen whether the German attack on the Homel sector is ultimately intended to support German troops in the Smolensk area or is a prelude to a drive south along the left bank of the Dnieper. Anyway, it is part of the “all over the place” tactics with which the Germans are trying to prevent effective concentration of the Soviet forces in particular areas and stabilisation of the front.

Reuter’s correspondent goes on to say that the Germans’ unfortunate experience round Smolensk seems 'to have taught them to adopt somewhat different tactics and to use the mobility of their forces to strike here, there, and everywhere, not necessarily with a precise immediate object, out to compel the Russians to rrtove troops about

Indeed, it can be said that the Germans, from the Gu 1 of Finland to the Black Sea, are desperately attempting to prevent stabilisation of the front which is the Russian aim.

The present front is considerably straighter than it was a few days ago. It runs roughly straight from the Gulf of Finland to Smolensk, with an eastward pocket towards Novgorod. The Germans south of Smolensk are clearly trying to follpw roughly a line along the Dnieper. For this reason, they are attempting to absorb the Soviet pocket west of Homel.

-. The correspondent emphasises that the Soviet airmen are performing wonders and have not lost control of the air at vital spots, but the dispatch of hundreds of aeroplanes from America and Britain is an urgent necessity.

While the German communique states that attacks were successfully continued against a few bridge -heads on the Dnieper still in enemy hands, B.erlin officials last evening admitted that the left army in the Ukraine was still baulked by the Russians. Heavy fighting was proceeding in the Kiev and Korosten areas. Russian Counter-Attacks

The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that Marshal Budenny counterattacked, recaptured a town in the Ukraine, and destroyed two German battalions, No confirmation of the German claims to have occupied the whole of the south Ukrainian area west of the Dnieper has been received in London, but it is pointed out by competent commentators that these claims are not denied by the Soviet communiques. The enemy claims regarding captures of men and material are viewed with the gravest mistrust, the opinion being expressed that the scale of operations and the size of the forces involved would preclude the probability of any accuracy in computation, but, even taking the German figures at their face value,'the numbers claimed are not impressive, considering the magnitude of the battle, and they lend colour to the belief that Marshal Budenny has successfully crossed the Dnieper with the greater part of hi? army intact. ' A Swedish newspaper reports that the Germans ,have penetrated the outer defences of Odessa, but the Official German News Agency speaks of reconnaissance, flights over the city, which seems to indicate that the German forces are not already there. In German 'raids made on Russian airports, the Russians claim to have shot down 38-German aeroplanes. Russian bombers were over Germany last night. The opinion is expressed in London that there is no evidence of a shortage of Nazi air crows or aeroplanes, but it is evident that the German High Command is throwing everything possible into the battle, having due regard to the necessary defences on the WesternJßrcnt,'. .*