GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1941, Page 5

GERMAN OFFENSIVE

“NO IMPORTANT CHANGE”

MAIN ATTACKS TO COME

Estimates of Casualties

LONDON, July 14. The renewed German offensive against Russia has brought no important change in the last 24 hours. A Russian communique issued early this morning speaks of heavy fighting in three zones—Pskov, Vitebsk, and Novograd Volynsk. These are the same zones as were mentioned in the Russian communiques yesterday. Pskov is on the road to Leningrad. Vitebsk on the road to Moscow, and Novograd Volynsk on the road to Kiev,in the Ukraine. The Russians say that the Germans have made no headway in the Pskov sector and have been repulsed with heavy losses at some points. They claim that on the central point they have recaptured the towns of Rogachev and Shlobin, on the western bank of the Dnieper River. They also speak of heavy German losses in the Novograd Volynsk sector and say that the Germans have been prevented from advancing. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that me German communique which yesterday claimed considerable advances, was ■ for internal consumption, to banish the anxiety which has settled over Germany. Very clear evidence exists that the Germans have not yet begun a general offensive, although this can be expected within a few days. The German communique in any case merely says that the German armies in the north are still fighting along the old Russian border, • the correspondent adds. Germany’s crack divisions in the centre are held at Vitebsk and are still facing the powerful Stalin Line fortifications barring the road to Moscow. The Axis forces on the southern front are now coming up against the modern defence system guarding Kiev, which the Germans expected to occupy within a fortnight of the commencement of the • invasion. Reliable reports, the correspondent concludes, indicate that the damage the German mechanised forces have sustained is so severe that the maintenance of a full-pressure offensive is impossible. ~ According to the Moscow radio, the Germans so far have lost at least 1,000,000 men. Russian losses are put at 250,000. More than 2300 German aeroplanes have been destroyed, the Russian losses being 1900. In tanks the Germans have lost 3000 and tne Russians 2200. “The first three weeks of fighting testify to the undoubted collapse oi Hitler’s blitzkrieg,” said the announced. “The best German divisions have been broken up. Germany’s enormous losses of troops explain the fact that Germany has recalled almost all her troops from occupied France, from the Swiss border and from several other places, replacing them with old men of the H According d to a' Vichy message, a Rumanian communique says that a Russian air raid on Ploesti yesterday set fire to three oil tanks and caused civilian and military damage. RUSSIAN CLAIMS. The first Russian communique issued to-day says:—“There was heavy fighting on a large scale m the dn ection of Pskov, Vitebsk and Novograd Volynsk.-.- German motorised forces and mechanised troops m the Pskov sector attempted a large-scale offensive" eastward, but our stubborn lesistance held it up everywhere. In some places the enemy was repulsed and suffered heavy losses. In the central sector we reoccupied the towns of Shlobin , and Rogachev, hea y fighting taking place with mfanti y and tanks. Our troops in the southe* i sector continued their operations against mechanised units, preventing their advance eastward. Heavy and continuous fighting m this sector, with the enemy suffering heavy losses from our artillery, aeroplanes and counter-attacking tank formations. In the other sectors there were no large-scale operations and no important changes in our positions. Our air force again attacked German motorised forces and The Soviet Air force will continue systematical to destroy enemy aeroplanes and rnech anised and motorised units and bomb enemy aeropdromes and military ob-To-day’s mid-day Russian cora “ munique says that there were no large-scale opeiations duiiDt, night, and there was no substantial alteration in positions along th. front. german estimates. LONDON, July 14. The Berlin radio and the Official German News Agency are complaining That not aIP Germans seem to realise the significance of the penetration of the Stalin Line. They have been at pains to point out that when the so-called Weygand Line was broken in France last jear French resistance was smashed. Th J - why history should not repeat Aseii. The Berlin radio announcer said .that the Present . fi ghtine Probably meant that the last of the Russian armies retreating Lorn Bialystok and Minsk are being annihilated. He sa d ciwiss newspaper says that tne ttusK armies in the west escaped enc ??lemSit in the first few days, and the German High Command is now attempting a seebnd encircling movement.

PENETRATION_POSSIBILITIES. z RpP 1125 am.) LONDON, July 14. (R The military spokesman says that, although there has not vet been any deep penetration of tne Stahn Line, the Red Army’s mobile defence policy will probably allow deep penetration at selected pointe. These will allow the defenders to deal more effectively with individual panzer thrusts, as was done in the earlv days of the war. . Authoritative observers in London are still cautious in assessing tne situation but the general view is that, after three weeks Germany has taken a severe mauling foi unsubstantial gains.—U.P.A. “ACCORDING TO PLAN.” (Rec 11.25 a.m.TLONDON, July 14. ' A brief German communique claims: Breaking-through operations on the eastern front continue accoidl™g to plan. Finnish forces under General Mannerheim attacked both sides of Lake Lodoga. The Luftwaffe bombed railways in the neighbourhood of Leningrad and Smo - •ensk, and military objectives at Kie<. —U.P.A. HOSPITAL SHIPS. LONDON, July 13. The Russian Government has refused any guarantees of safety tor German hospital ships in the Baltic. M. Molotov, the Soviet Foreign Commissar, in reply to a German note regarding a large German hospital ship, said that, in view of the systematic violation by the Germans of international law, he could not believe

ithat they would observe the rules of ■ The Hague Convention. i aerial”activity. I i (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. | To-day’s Russian communique ; states: No large-scale fighting occurred during the night. The position of the Russian troops has not substantially altered. The Air Force throughout the night bombed airfields and mechanised units. Attacks were also made .on Jassy and Polesti. Our Air Force destroyed 94 German planes, with the loss of 12 planes.—U.P.A. MOVE AGAINST LENINGRAD. LATEST POSITION REVIEWED. (Rec. 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. The most vigorous and probably the most dangerous German thrust to-day, seems to be- east of Lake Peipus toward Leningrad, which the Finns claim to be supporting by a successful push from the north-west. The German News Agency claims that Panzer divisions east of Lake Peipus, after battering down Russian resistance, are advancing towards Leningrad. The Agency also claims that the advance continues irresistibly toward Smolensk across the Dvina and Dnieper, with heavy Russian losses. The Stalin Line has been breached in four places: firstly, Lake Peipus; secondly, near Vitebsk; thirdly, west of Kiev; fourthly, at ■the bend in the centre of the Dniester. Further penetration occurred at Opochhka, where German shock troops captured two Russian forts and destroyed one by a mine, making a 500 yards breach which reinforcements widened, while shock troops poured on. It is emphasised in London that the immediate results of these renewed thrusts largely depend on the Russians’ ability to maintain organisation and transport for swinging reserves wherever most needed. Mobility is all-important. The Germans claim that infantry marches of 18 miles a day are not unusual, and the Luftwaffe is apparently doing its utmost to hinder the Russian movement, both in front and behind the battle lines. The cutting of the Leningrad-Smolensk railway in several places is claimed. The Germans use swarms of fighters to protect the Panzer columns, and also call un bombers when they encounter strong artillery positions. The Russians are similarly employing large air formations, bombing and machine-gunning German troops as they struggle on through the scorched earth, where any tent may bring death from a guerilla’s bullet or a lightning Russian counter-thrust. Russian air sweeps penetrated far behind the invaders’ lines, from Finland to the Black Sea. A Finnish High Command communique says: Our troops attacked strongly fortified Russian positions at Ladoga and Karelia, and broke through at several points despite stubborn resistance. Penetration m some places of 50 miles was made, and the advance continues. The Berlin radio claims that German destroyers sank several Russian merchantmen in the Baltic, 'while the Russians report the destruction of two U-boats, lying in wait for warships and convoys. Russian”successes.

(Rec. 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. A Moscow communique claims success in the western sectors, where 100 tanks were destroyed, also in the south-western sector, where a great number of guns and ammunition were captured. It also claims to have sunk two destroyers and 13 transports, in the Baltic.—U.P.A.

(Rec. 2.15 p.m.) ANKARA, July 14. After an outburst in the Turkish Press against M. Litvinoff’s speech, wherein he referred to the fate planned by Hitler for those still deluded by pacts of non-aggression, all the Istanbul newspapers were suspended for three days, ostensibly for some other minor reason. —U.P.A. ANGLO-RUSSIAN PACT "LONDON, July 13. The first comment in London on the military alliance signed between Great Britain and the Soviet is that it is one of the briefest and clearest diplomatic documents in the history of the country. Russian opinion is that it is a very good thing for both countries. It is pointed out in London that the sole purpose of the agreement is the successful prosecution of the war, and that it makes reciprocal the words used by Mr. Churchill on the day that Germany invaded Russia, when he said: “Any man or State who fights against Nazism will have our aid.” The “Daily Mail” describes the treaty with Russia as “realistic and reasonable,” and a powerful instrument against Nazism.Moscow reports say that news of the treaty was received with enthusiasm throughout Russia. The president of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (M. Komarov) said that Russia and Britain now stood at the head of the struggle for the progress of mankind. 'CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY. " (Rec. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 14. The Moscow radio broadcast a statement paying a tribute to the heroism of the British people and their gallant Army and Navy. It declared that the people of the U.S.S.R. unanimously welcome the agreement. “The people of Britain are with us. They are filled with the desire to free the world of Hitler’s gangsters. Those unwaveringly against the Fascist powers of darkness and barbarity were undismayed by temporary failures. Neither were heads turned by victories. The British and Russian peoples will fignt without hesitation against the hated enemy. We do not doubt the united effort of the two great peoples will end Fascism, which has sown war and death throughout the world.” MR MENZIES’ INTIMATION. MELBOURNE, July 14. Mi' Menzies, Prime Minister,. announced that Australia had entirely approved of the Anglo-Russian Pact. Mr Menzies said that the agreement would ni no sense affect the Commonwealth Government’s internal policy in regard to subversive activities in the country. MR. NASH’SSTATEMENT

WELLINGTON, July 14. The joint declaration embodied in the agreement between Britain and Russia is of supreme importance, and its practical results must profoundly influence the whole course of the war,” said the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr. Nash) in an interview to-day. “There is no need to stress the .value of this basis of understanding. Its benefits are equally obvious to our friends as well as our enemies. On the east and west' Germany is now facing two resolute peoples, pledged to assist each other, and both equally determined that there shall be no sur-

render and no separate peace. They have both agreed to keep on fighting together, whatever the odds, and however long the war. It would be absurd if at this stage there could he any obstacle to making common cause against the Nazi aggressor. The secret of Hitler’s success undoubtedly had been the way in which he managed to isolate his victims, and thus to strike them down singly, and achieve a series of victories which would probably never have been possible in the face of a collective peace system. Even at this late hour it was not too much to hope that other nations whose independence and existence is threatened by Germany will band together as the British Commonwealth and Russia have done, pledged to assist each other in all circumstances and keep on fighting until victory is won.”

SOVIET MISSION TO BRITAIN. RUGBY, July 14. The Soviet Military Mission, headed by General Golikov, has, since its arrival in London, made dose contacts with British Chiefs of Staffs and the Defence Ministry. General Golikov and Colonel Dragun have now returned to Russia to report. They will then return to Britain. Meanwhile, the work of the Soviet Mission is proceeding uninterruptedly under Admiral Kharlamov. INDO-CHINA ACTION SAIGON, July 14. It is officially announced that following the severance of diplomatic relations between France and the Soviet, all Russians in Indo-Cnma have been arrested. Six hundred French and native Communists were also arrested and sent to concentration camps.