FAILURE IN THE AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 60, 8 September 1941, Page 7

FAILURE IN THE AIR

The Germans admit that Leningrad V communications with the rest of Russia are still open by the eastern approaches, There is no indication of an enemy advance through the cityV outer fortifications. The Germans say that Leningrad is under constant. artillery fire and that the northern part of the city especially is in extreme danger. . , A Berlin newspaper claims that at one point the defences have been broken, but it may. be here that a" German tank column, after piercing the Russian lines, was cut by a pincer movement and hammered for two days by Russian artillery. , The mood of. Leningrad and the ordeal of its defenders against air attacks were described in a broadcast by a Russian fighter pilot, who said that Stalin's falcons had destroyed over 300 German planes .in the approaches to the city. Hundreds of Nazi tanks had also found their grave. The city itself had become the front line. Thousands ,of workers were building fortifications," and thousands of others were defending their native city with arms in their hands. Everyone who remained at his factory, berich 'was doing the work of two or three men. "We have vowed," he said; "that the Germans, will not get Leningrad. No enemy has ever sue-

LONDON, September 7. The twelfth week of Germany's attack on , Russia has been marked by continued fighting along the whole front. The great city of Leningrad, the birthplace of modern Russia and home of 3,000,000 people, is striking back harder than ever against the tremendous German onslaught. Sight weeks ago the Germans declared that complete German victory was assured and that Leningrad was immediately threatened, but even today there is no confirmation of the enemy's repeated claim that the city itself is under continuous artillery bombardment. Instead, the Russian forces have counter-attacked at places and driven back the most forward German units. The Germans ara hurling hundreds of dive-bombers against Leningrad, but no material progress is claimed, and the city has now defied ten days of Germany's most furious onslaught. The Germans say that hundreds of bombers and dive-bombers operated yesterday in waves. The "Red Star" says that Germany has thrown almost the whole of the Luftwaffe into the struggle, but has failed to achieve the first, aim, namely, superiority in the air.

ceeded in getting it. We would rather die." A Correspondent of the newspaper "Pravda", at the front reports that the Germans are throwing their best men and machines against Leningrad, with proportionately high losses. Further Russian successes in local operations in the central sector of the front were reported in Moscow today. The Germans have been forced to admit the superiority of the new Russian planes, particularly the fighters. There are reports of Russian air attacks on German airfields in the Ukraine, and Russian dive-bombers have been active in the central sector. A number of villages have been recaptured, and Russian dive-bombers have destroyed German bridgeheads. The Spanish news agency's. Berlin correspondent says that at Odessa the Russians have plenty of air support, and planes come and go from the Crimea unceasingly. % The Germans say that the Russians have been driven out of all the Finnish territory which was ceded to1 them last year. The Germans are now trying to persuade the Finns to continue the war by promising: them grain. The Germans say that 25,000 tons are promised, and the Finns put. the quantity at 10,000 ! tons.. '■,••.■■ ' /■'... ■ North-east of Leningrad the Finns claim to have advanced 45 miles and reached the River Svir, which links Lakes Ladoga and Onega.