ENEMY’S ADVANCE IN VAST PUSH

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 229, 24 June 1941, Page 7

ENEMY’S ADVANCE IN VAST PUSH

Progress Slights Says Moscow. AIR RAID HAVOC Berlin Claims Deep Thrust Made ■ ■ (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received June 23, 10.40 p.m. LONDON, June 23. The first Russian communique states: "At dawn yesterday the Germans attacked our frontier. The whole front from the Baltic to the Black Sea was held during the first part of the day. At the beginning of the second part the Germans again made contact with vanguards of the Red Army, who repulsed the enemy after stubborn fighting, inflicting heavy losses. The enemy succeeded in obtaining slight practical successes in the Grodno sector, opposite Warsaw, and in the Kristynpol sector, 40 miles north of Lwow (Lemberg) on the River Bug. They occupied the villages of Kalyar, Stoyanov and Tehanovite. (The first two are situated 10 miles and the third six miles from the frontier). “The Luftwaffe - attacked several of our aerodromes, urban areas and concentration points, but encountered vigorous resistance on the part of our fighters and anti-aircraft guns. We shot down 65 planes.” The only news from Germany so far today is a statement by the official news agency that a few Soviet planes were over East Prussia last night. They dropped a small number of bombs causing slight damage. Anti-aircraft fire caused the enemy planes to withdraw.

MOVING EN MASSE. Received June 23, 7.35 p.m. LONDON, June 22. The German armies, flung full force against Russia, are moving en masse across the frontiers while in the far north and south the ends of the vast German line have turned inward. Wave after wave of packed bomber formations go on over their heads, pounding Russian air bases and devastating towns. Berlin’s claims of the extent of the progress on land so far state that German troops have crossed the River Bug on the Ger-man-Soviet frontier in Poland, under a fierce artillery barrage, established a bridgehead and penetrated deep into Russian territory. Infantry continues to pour in, and large columns, it is stated, are encountering little resistance. German armoured units continue to advance in Bukovina and occupied the town of Gradov.

Reports reaching Ankara say that the Luftwaffe has attacked 'the Black Sea oil port of Odessa on the same scale as it bombed Rotterdam and Belgrade. The Germans claim that the Luftwaffe's initial onslaughts have succeeded in forestalling the enemy. The air force, they, say,, has destroyed considerable numbers of planes on the ground and also in combat, while bomber formations heavily and successfully attacked air bases, antiaircraft positions, troop concentrations and defence works in Russia and Russian-occupied territory. The German news agency says the German attacks from East Prussia were undertaken without artillery preparation in order to surprise the Russians. The infantry waited for opportunities to break through the enemy’s lines, and pioneers succeeded in preventing the destruction of important bridges. A Finnish communique says that Soviet planes flew over Finland, raiding several points inland, and also warships off the coast, and other . Finnish vessels near Turku... They started tires in some , places, and two coast defence ships, the Xlmarinen and Vainamoinen, are reported, to have been bombed near the island of Korko. Large numbers of Soviet planes bombed the south-eastern frontier of Finland. Reported Revolt. The first news of naval action is a German news agency claim that tor-pedo-boats sank a 4000-ton Russian vessel and also a fishing-boat in Russian waters. Reports reaching Stockholm say that a revolt has broken out in Estonia, with rebels.seizing armed ships in Tallinn harbour and firing on the city. The Red Army is successfully combating. the. rebels. In the north, Finnish troops are reported to fe in action side by side with the Germans. The Rome radio said that the Rumanian troops invading Bessarabia had been waiting impatiently for weeks for the order to advance. At the southern end of the front very strong resistance by Russian troops is reported by Rome radio, specially in northern Bukovina, the Rumanian province ceded to Russia last year. Tonight the German official news agency sarys that the Soviet air force has been decisively defeated in two attacks over German territory today. It claims that seven out of nine Soviet bombers which raided East Prussia this morning were shot down, and that in a raid on German-occupied Poland Nazi fighters shop down 33 out of 35 Soviet bombers. In an order-of the day, the comman-der-in-chief of the German army has said to his troops: “Full of confidence in the Ftthrer, wo -will beat the old Bolshevist enetny of National Socialist Germany and thereby secure the final victory over Britain.’’ Action on 1500-milo Front. Earlier. German reports indicate that fighting is going on along the whole Fin nish. German and Rumanian border with the Soviet Union —a distance of 1500 miles. The Germans are appar ently attempting three major drives, one into the rich Ukrainian wheatfields. the second along the .Baltic coast to Leningrad, and the ■’bird a joint German and Finnish attack across the Karelian Isthmus toward Leningrad. The first German communique stated: "Fighting broke out early this morning on the Soviet frontier. An enemy attempt to 11,y into East Prussia ws repelled with heavy losses. German fighters brought down a number of. Red bombers.” The Rome radio said that German and Rumanian troops continued til! morning to penetrate Russian territory. A war correspondent with the German forces says that squadrons of Jun kers gathered at an ad.tnced aerodrome which was built in a few days The pilots did not know their assignment till an hour before the takeoff on tie morning of June 22. when they were loid that their enemy was Russia, which had joined Urilain C'ue -<|ii:idr<m bombed Ventspils aerodrotm < Latvia 1 destroyin'..' plniips on the ground. The aerodrome, which bad no ground dofem-e, was left. useless. German light artillery and ma.-hino-guii fire opciK.d

at. 3.5 a.m. and infantry advanced past the frontier posts on the Prussian border - . There was little enemy fire. A correspondent on the Finnish border says that the Russian fire became weaker after the Germans had penetrated the frontiers. Then German bombers arrived, assisting in breaking up the Russians’ frontier posts, and . prisoners were captured in a few minutes. The German radio, after announcing that the Baltic Sea has been mined except the three-mile zone off the Swedish coast, says that German ships have been ordered to go to Sweden if they are unable to gto to . Germany or Denmark. In a broadcast, the Berlin radio told the Russians it was useless to resist the German attack. “You are facing the best army in the world, which in a few weeks has defeated the strongest armies in Europe,” it said. “Therefore, Russian soldiers, turn round your bayonets and guns and drive your Bolshevik overlords from your country. Only when the Jews and the Commissars are driven out will there be pea?e and justice in Russia. The German army intends -to free you from Bolshevik exploitation. Down with Stalifi I Down with the Jews and exploiters! Long live the liberty of all working peoples 1” The Rome news agency .says that General Antonescu issued a proclamation to the Rumanians declaring that Rumania was undertaking a holy war against Bolshevism. “We aim at the same time to restore Bessarabia and Bukovina, to Rumania,’’ he said, “thus contributing toward the Axis struggle to establish a new order and a real civilization in Europe.’’

HIGH FEELING IN RUSSIA

Pledges For Defence HASTY A.R.P. WORK IN MOSCOW LONDON, June 22. A wave of meetings has swept Russia, expressing contempt for the cowardly German attack and willingness to fight to the last, says the Moscow radio. The Ukrainians have given an assurance to the Government that the first air raids have only stiffened the people’s determination. According to other reports from Moscow, the population is dividing its time between feverish A.R.P. precautions and mass meetings resolving to smash the Fascist aggressor. Loudspeakers at street 'corners blare official encouragement, including for the first time the full text of Mr Roosevelt’s comments on the Nazi regime. Many wooden houses in the capital are being hastily demolished to prevent tires from air raids. The A.R.P. have been ordered to prepare gas-proof shelters and install additional tire hydrants. A blackout has been enforced. Workers throughout the Soviet have given a pledge to work harder than ever to help to defeat the enemy. Roys from high schools are said to be flocking to the military authorities, seeking enrolment in the Red Army. Measures Claimed Complete. The Moscow radio said tonight that complete calm reigned in the Soviet capital. Anti-aircraft guns have been brought into position, air raid precautions completed, and health services put on a war footing. Soldiers marchii g through the streets of Moscow si rd ■ enthusiastically acclaimed by the people, and reports of approval of the statement made by M. Molotov are said to bo pouring into the Government offices. The Soviet Supreme Council mis proclaimed martial law in the whole of western Russia and also general mnbi Bzation in 11 areas, comprising the military commands of Umineind, ■ Kiev Orlov Odessa, the Volga Mosi cow the Urals. Archangel, the North I Caucasus. Trauscaiicasus. and Siberia Military tribunals. from whose iudzmoiils there will to no appeal, are , given wide powers over labour and i also for compulsory fire-watching, reouisitioniog transport, and ordering I curfew.-.