STOP PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 23950, 30 July 1941, Page 12

STOP PRESS

B ues IA N CO r NIK R-A TT A CKS. LONDON, July 29.■ —The Russian counter-attacks' are reported to have spread to all the major sectors. The Germans arc doing their utmost to push forward, particularly in the Smolensk area, but the Russians are fiercely striking back at each strategic point. Latest advices from Moscow say Smolensk is still in Russian hands. Marshal Timoshenko’s army here seems to be looped around the German panzer spearhead, and the battle appears to he near its climax. Despite German claims, Marshal Voroshilov seems to have nailed down the Ccrnian-Finnish thrust, against Leningrad, The Germans say the Finns have regained all the territory the Russians took in the Russian-Finnish war. ■ According to ‘ The Times ' correspondent on the German frontier, the Germans continue to assert that the ring round Leningrad is steadily closing, claiming that at one point in the south-west they arc within 40 miles of the city, also that German infantry from Lake Peipus have reached Wolosowo, near Domojirova. Other German forces from the south are now north of Lake Eilmen, near Novogorod. One German panzer division is reported to have reached this point some time ago and was repulsed, but the German forces now claim to be able to withstand the Russian counterattacks. The Finns claim to have captured islands off Salmi- The Russians, however, surprised the Germans in the north-western sectors by bringing up new divisions from the Urals. The Germans did not believe that troops could be brought so far so quickly. The Germans say the weather has improved in the Ukraine and a more rapid advance is expected. Axis troops south of the Ukraine arc pressing on alter the retreating enemy, and on the southern flank are approaching the Black Sea on a broad front. DEFENCE OF SARAWAK. LONDON, July 30. The (Sarawak Government has taken further defence measures at Miri,-whore the oilfields are located, and the capital (Kuching) has been declared a defence area. A 'special police force and coastguard are being formed.