War On Russian Front

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 42, 18 August 1941, Page 7

War On Russian Front

GERMAN CLAIMS IN THE UKRAINE

LONDON, August 17.

As the Russian war enters its ninth week, Moscow tells of continued fighting all along the 2000-mile front, while reports from the Ukraine show that the German blitz seems to have lost its momentum.

In the Ukraine Berlin claims the capture of Nikolaiev, 70 miles north-east of Odessa, where the German, military spokesman said the Luftwaffe was destroying transports taking off Russian troops. So far it is impossible to say whether the Russian Black Sea port has been captured only by Goebbels or by the German advanced units, with their lightning thrust down the estuary of the Bug.

The German communique speaks of the pursuit of the defeated enemy east of the Bug, but the same defeated enemy continues to put up a resistance which is commented upon by Berlin commentators, who often refer to the numerically superior Russian rearguard. This supports the view that in this area, at all events, Marshal Budenny's men have, escaped the fate of encirclement meted ,out days ago by the German propagandists.

One of the few German references to the capture of prisoners came from Berlin this afternoon, when broadcasters said that 7000 Russians had been mopped up in a district 100 miles from Nikolaiev. The Berlin military spokesman implied this afternoon that on a wide front in the Dnieper bend the Russians have eluded the trap set for them, and he spoke of the Germans being in pursuit. It is still uncertain whether in his withdrawal Marshal Budenny will make his next stand in front of the deep region of the Dnieper bend or behind the river. The whole of the region within this bend is said to be dotted with pockets of Russian resistance, and these troops are operating with great success behind the (German positions.