GREAT ORDEAL AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1941, Page 8

GREAT ORDEAL AHEAD

THE SOVIET ARMIES

HITLER'S NEW DRIVE

CONFIDENT BERLIN BOAST

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 6. The Stockholm correspondent of "The Times" says the Russians have no illusions about the tremendous weight of the new German offensive, with which Hitler has identified his personal reputation as leader more closely than with any particular previous offensive. The German spokesman in Berlin declared that the German armies will this time carry Moscow in an irresistible rush, perhaps lasting for weeks, ,but without retreats, halts, or slackening, until the swastika flag, is hoisted over the Kremlin. German intimations that they do mot intend .to bomb Leningrad into ruins and surrender may be taken to signify that the German High Command is reconciled with the idea that Leningrad must wait while the greatest possible number of German bombers is diverted to co-operate with Hitler's troops by bombing down Marshal Timoshenko's -resistance, which the Germans represent as the . sole obstacle between Hitler and victory before the, winter. The Russians show no signs of dismay at the great ordeal immediately j ahead of them. They are confident th#t Hitler's sledge-hammer will crack on Timoshenko's anvil. The Berlin radio declared that, the new offensive is the greatest in history and is backed by the bulk of the Luftwaffe. It added: "The preparations for the offensive were so big that they could not bo hidden from the enemy. The .attack was progressing along the whole of the central front, where innumerable guns of all calibres are in action. Our reconnaissance planes report that the enemy positions are strongly defended." SOUTHERN DRIVES FAIL. . Reuters Moscow correspondent says that Marshal Budenny has succeeded in regrouping and reinforcing the Red armies in the Ukraine, as the result of which the Germans' thrust against the Crimea is not succeeding, while the drive against Kharkov is definitely held up. The correspondent declares that the situation in the Ukraine for the past fortnight has been very confused, but it is now considerably improved in the dangerous southern sector, and may be regarded as being well in hand. "The Times" correspondent on the German frontier, however, states that the German forces appear to have advanced somewhat towards Kharkov, and are now unpleasantly close to the city. . According.to Rumanian quarters at Istanbul, the Russians made a surprise sortie from Odessa in torpedo-boats, and landed several miles east of Odessa and inflicted - 2000 casualties before they successfully withdrew. A Budapest newspaper announced the execution of seven parachutists who landed in th*e Rumanian oilfields near. Ploesti. They are alleged to have worn civilian clothes, and therefore were not regarded as prisoners of war. The Ankara correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says there are indications that Germany is ready to launch a long-prepared naval operation from Bulgaria. Well-inform-ed quarters-declare that Varna and Burgas are beehives of activity and that 4000 German sailors are controlling the ports.