GERMAN DRIVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1941, Page 5

GERMAN DRIVES

PROGRESS IN THREE SECTORS RUSSIAN STRONG RESISTANCE Success Claimed In Ukraine

LONDON, July 15. ’ Stubborn fighting is continuing in the three sectors of the Russian front where the Germans are trying to break through to Leningrad, Smolensk, and Kiev. The Russian communique covering yesterday’s daylight operations, claims that the Germans suffered heavy losses in repeated counter-attacks by the Red Army in the northern sector, that in the central sector, along the Dnieper River, the Germans lost about 100 tanks and many vehicles, and that in the Ukrainian sector a great quantity of material was captured when an enemy force of about 3000 men was defeated. The Moscow night communique indicates that the Russian Army is not only ferociously resisting attacks by the Germans, but is vigorously coun-ter-attacking. The Moscow communique, nevertheless, discloses the fierceness of the German onslaught. It shows that there are no signs of its relaxing. It will be noticed that the communique refers to fighting in the north-west sector, which is the Leningrad area, but it gives no details in the way of countering the German claims. General Mannerheim and Field Marshal von Brauchitsch are opposed in this area by Marshal Voroshilov, who is a tank expert, and who mechanised the Red Army. Genera] Mannerheim is attacking across the Isthmus east of Wiipuri, Finland. Be claims advances of 50 miles. Marshal von Brauchitsch’s force is moving northwards. It was last heard ol as being engaged in large-scale fighting in the Pskov area, though advanced German units may have pushed on farther to Leningrad. The Moscow night communique makes only vague references to the western sectors. There the Germans are driving against Smolensk. The Russian report recorded the wiping out of 100 tanks in an unnamed locality. This was useful work. Berlin s definite morning claim, however, that the Germans have reached Mohilev, which is 90 miles from Smolensk, is disconcerting. There is nothing available, however, to support the German claim that the German vanguard is now 130 miles from Moscow.

GERMAN CLAIMS. LONDON, July 15. The Berlin radio claims that German shock troops have entered the suburbs of Mogiley. Mogilev is oil the western bank of the Dnieper River, 110 miles east of Minsk. . The Germans claim progress in the northward operations. Heavy fighting was continued in the central eastern sector, in the region around Vitebsk. A general communique merely states that operations on the eastern fronts have been making considerable progress. The Swiss paper, “Neue Zuichei Zeitung’s” Berlin correspondent says: “Military circles affirm that Leningrad is now within the reach of the German forces, and it may be occupied within 24 hours. Tne correspondent describes Moscow as being how threatened, and forecasts German victories before the week-end. RUSSIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS (Rec. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON July 15 A vigorous and apparently laigescale Russian counter-thrust towards Bobruisk, and German News Agency claims, without detail, of continuing advances toward Leningrad and Smolensk, are the features of to-day's news. . , „ ~ . The British United Press says it is unofficially claimed that the Germans have reached Kiev, but have not yet captured the whole city.. However, neither Russian nor official German sources confirm this report. Military commentators in London say it is possible that German armoured formations have penetrated fairly deeply into the Russian front at some points, without the support of the main attacking forces. This is admitted by the Berlin radio, which mentions difficulties for the German troops caused by the Soviet method of defence in depth. “Izvestia” says that the Russian counter-offensive between Rogachev and Jlobin is pressing on, and the front is now 20 miles west of Rogachev. The Russians also crossed the Dnieper at several points north of Rogachev, after their artillery silenced the German guns and routed the enemy tanks. The inhabitants are returning to Rogachev, and the roads are choked with captured German "tsuks The second stage of the German offensive has evidently reached its

MOST VIOLENT INTENSITY. The German positional claims appear at least premature, but it does appear that the Germans and Finns are concentrating large forces for the offensive against Leningrad, and, more important, against the Red fleet based on Kronstadt. The latest Russian communique says: There have been no substantial changes on the northern land front, and even the Germans are very vague about the operations in the region oi Lake Peipus. Tallinn remains in Russian hands, with presumably the most of northern Esthonia. . The German News Agency claims: The advance toward Leningrad continues without a halt. The Germans have captured the easternmost Stalin Line fortifications in the Vitebsk area, and conclusively frustrated Russian attempts to establish a defensive line behind the riddled Stalin Line. In the Dnieper and Dvina areas, the Russians rushed up mixed forces, including strong tank units, to close the gaps, but the dissolution of the Russian divisions continues. The Luftwaffe effectively bombed the road from Smolensk to Moscow, and the railway network in that area. The Hungarians are advancing in the south-western Ukraine. Rumanian troops have reoccupied most of Bessarabia, and will soon regain the remainder. There is no confirmation of the German claim regarding Bessarabia, and it appears from the evidence on both sides that the Rumanians are still operating on the defensive in the Danube delta, and at least in southern Bessarabia. RUSSIAN ORGANISATION. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent points out that the Russian reorganisation in the past week is even, superior to that of the Germans. The Russian railways are still working adequately. The Soviet’s main armies, hitherto held in reserve, are ready for the approachling gigantic struggle. General mobilisation is nearly complete. None of the German photographs of captured material portrays the latest types of Russian tanks and artillery, supporting the Russian contention that the most-efficient weapons are reserved for the counterstroke, when the enemy has been enticed far into the country, with long and vulnerable lines of communication. One million first-rate Soviet troops in the Leningrad area alone have not yet been thrown into the front-line. The Russians should hold the Germans in the

Pskov region. Narva remains in Russian hands. The latest evidence confirms that the push from Finland to Leningrad did not begin seriously until the Germans occupied Esthonia. ; M. Lozovsky, replying to an inquiry by the Iranian Ambassador, said that the Government did not contemplate leaving Moscow, because there was no reason for that. AERIAL EXPLOITS. The Moscow radio reports the destruction of 27 grounded German planes at a secret aerodrome, by a small formation of Russian bombers. In another action, a Flight Commander, who’ was unable to bail out of his burning plane, directed it at German fuel-laden truck!?. The gallant pilot perished in the terrific explosion. One of the new Russian dive-bombers attacked 15 German planes, destroyed two, and forced the others to flee. These bombers are faster than the German fighters, which give them a wide berth. Russian air-raids on many places in East Finland and in the Karelia region are reported in a Finnish communique. * Bucharest announced that the Russians dropped showers of incendiaries on the capital, but the fires were extinguished. Ploesti was again bombed. From Budapest, it is reported that Russian parachutists landed’’in Hungary. to destroy the railways, but the attempt was. frustrated. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent says it is emphasised in Russia how much the Soviet Army 'leaders owe the R.A.F., which has reduced the German air strength on the ‘Eastern Front, in. the past few weeks. RUSSIAN CONFIDENCE. (Rec. 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. The latest Moscow communique claims that Soviet forces surrounded and destroyed enemy mechanised and motorised units in the Pskov-Porkhov sector, and are also successfully resisting enemy thrusts in the Vitebsk-Novograd-Volynsk sectors. Confidence in Russia’s ability to hold the Germans was expressed by the Soviet mission, General Kharlamov and Air Colonel Pugachev, wherewith M. Maisky arranged a meeting with Empire journalists. Asked whether, in the event of a Russian retreat behind Moscow, the Russians would be able to fight on, drawing supplies from the Urals, General Kharlamov replied he did not believe the Germans could take Moscow, to which M. Maisky added, “It’s a long way to Tipperary,” re-emphasising that the Germans, were only now meeting the main body of the army. The interviewers were most impressed with the Mission members’ iT<rences to Russia’s strength.— U.P.A. ANGLO-RUSSIAN PACT. MR. CHURCHILL’S STATEMENT. RUGgY, July 15. In a statement in the commons, Mr. Churchill spoke of the Anglo-Soviet declaration, which he said carried with it the full assent of the British and Russian peoples and the British Dominions, for united action against the common foe, and it could not fail to exercise a highly beneficial influence on the future of the war.

“It is, of course, an alliance, and the Russian people are now our allies,” he added, amidst cheers. He read an extract from a recent speech by Marshal Smuts, in which he said. “Let no one say we are now in league with Communists, and fighting the battle of Communism. More fitly can neutralists and fence-sitters be charged with fighting the battle of Nazism. If Hitler, in his insane megolomania, has driven Russia to fight him in self-defence, we bless her arms and wish her all success, without for a moment identifying ourselves with her Communistic creed. Hitler made her his enemy, not us friendly to her creed. Just as previously, he treacherously made her his friend without embracing Communism.” Mr. Churchill said that these words expressed the views of the British Government. The Foreign Secretary, he continued, had been instrumental in bringing about a great measure of agreement between the Soviet Union and the Polish Republic, and although negotiations were not yet concluded, he was hopeful that another important step would soon be taken in marshalling the people of the world against the Nazi criminal. NEWSPAPER ESTIMATES. LONDON, July 14. The British-Soviet alliance receives universal welcome in the British press. In a discussion of the implication of the declaration, “The Times” says: “By providing that neither party shall lay down arms without the other, it implies the necessity of agreement on the terms on which arms shall be laid down, and therefore of a common elaboration of peace aims. Since the experience of the last 20 years has made it amply clear that a stable settlement of the affairs of eastern and south-eastern Europe cannot be achieved without Russian participation, this conclusion will be rightly and unanimously welcomed by responsible opinion in this country.” And on a similar theme, the “Manchester Guardian,” after consideration of the exact position of the Soviet vis-a-vis Britain, says the effect will be that of a full and binding alliance in war and in peace. Newspapers express the hope that one of the effects of the declaration may be a settlement of the differences outstanding between Poland and Russia, and “The Times” sees in it a bridge which might be used to bring this about. “Unless Poland were content to become a dependant of Germany—an unthinkable hypothesis whose implications have now been demonstrated beyond the possibility of misunderstanding—close co-qpera-tion and association with Russia are essential, and this is a matter of far more vital importance to her than any issue of disputed territorial claims, says “The Times,” “Russia on her side can afford to be generous if the needs of her security are fully met, and these needs can be met most effectively by a wholehearted hastening of Polish co-operation in the field lof strategy and international relations. On this basis, agreement should no longer be delayed.” . . Comment justifying the BritishRussian alliance is still being received I from overseas. The “Sydney Sun” states that the agreement came two years too late, but not too late to save Europe. The Canadian press is unanimous in commending the agreement. It states that the Canadian people are wholeheartedly behind Britain in the agreeThe agreement is regarded by the Japanese newspaper “Nichi Nichi” as a powerful instrument in making conditions more difficult for Germany. It I will be Germany’s task to smash Rusj sian resistance and gain domination I in the Mediterranean before the United States can give substantial aid.