RUSSIAN PARACHUTISTS

Evening Star, Issue 24082, 31 December 1941, Page 8

RUSSIAN PARACHUTISTS

HAVOC IN GERMAN REAR LONDON, December 30. ]n Russia battles are raging all day and all night along every part ot the fronts. The Russian forces continue to advance, and shot down 2b German planes on Monday lor tho loss ot six of their own. War correspondents speak of the heavy losses of men and materials suffered by tho German forces. , , The ‘ Red Star ’ correspondent on the central front described the landing of Soviet parachutists at the rear of the German forces. He said that the parachutists, after descent, destroyed telegraph and telephonic communications between enemy units, blew up bridges, and blocked all roads of retreat. Enemy tanks, lorries, and armoured cars seeking to pass by these wrecked bridges floundered and stuck in the snow, whereupon tho parachutists, hiding in the woods, annihilated the German soldiers with automatic rifles. They also set fire to and blew up lorries and tanks. Encountering a big column of German motorised units escorted by German tanks and armoured cars, the Russian parachutists, allowed some of the units to pass, after which they attacked the centre and roar of the convoy with incendiary bullets. The Gormans in the darkness could not pick out the attackers, and each end of the column opened fire on the other. These parachutists in nine days blew’ np 29 bridges, burned out 48 lorries, 2 tanks, and 2 staff cars, destroyed a great quantity of ammunition, and ■wiped out 400 Germans, after which they rejoined the advancing Red Army. SOVIET TRADE UNIONS LEADERS IN LONDON (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.15 a.in.) RUGBY, Dec. 30. Soviet trade union leaders arrived in London early this morning. They were welcomed by Sir W alter Citrine and members of the Trades Union Congress General Council. The Russian delegation will attend meetings of the T.U.C. General Council and of the Anglo-Soviet Trades Union Committee. The members will also visit British war factories and attend some special conferences arranged for next month to hear reports from tho British Trades Union Congress delegation which visited Russia a few weeks ago. Tho first of these conferences will bo held at tho next week-end. EUROPE’S WINTER BITTER GOLD REPORTED (Rec. 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 30. The Swiss radio reports that bitter cold is sweeping over Europe. Goods traffic along the Danube is stopped until further notice. Mount Vesuvius is covered will snow.