SOVIET “BLUFF”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 5 August 1941, Page 6

SOVIET “BLUFF”

GERMANS PEEVED TANK SECRECY OLD MODELS ON SHOW NEW UNITS IN WAR (Eloc. Tel. Copyright-—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug 5. 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 4. German propaganda officials arc now angrily accusing M. Stalin of the “greatest tank bluff since the tank was introduced into warfare.” The Germans declare that the Russians displayed only old model tanks al manoeuvres and parades at which foreign military attaches were present. In reporting this the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Express says the Germans declare that when the Russians appeared in battle they had types of tanks which the German High Command had never even heard about. At the outbreak the Germans officially stated that the Russians hac 9000 tanks. The Germans now say they have captured or destroyed 900 C, but the Russians have many left.

. “Hoping to achieve an early victory the Germans at the outbreak of hostilities threw' in two to three times the numerical strength of the Russian forces stationed on the Russian-Ger-man frontier,” says the Soviet papei Pravda. “The German troops numerically were vastly superior to those employed in France, where 0000 firstline planes and 7500 tanks were used. These figures were almost doubled oil the east front. Growing Resistance "It is obvious that Hitler believed that after defeating Russia he would have no difficulty in compelling England and America to accept peace terms favouring Germany. The Soviet forces thwarted the plans of Hitler’s gang, which completely under-esti-mated the strength of the Red Army and the Soviet people. The German troops encountered tremendous difficulties and the growing strength and initiative of the Red -Army compelled them in some places to pass to the defensive. “A fierce struggle is ahead, but Russia confidently looks to the future because resistance is growing daily anc; the counterblows are gaining in strength and force.” A German communique says: “Ir. the course of the enveloping movement in the Ukraine, German and Hungarian mobile troops cut off vita, enemy rail communications. The mass of the Soviet forces which were surrounded east of Smolensk are no* annihilated. The remainder are facet with disbandment.”

A Finnish communique claims that all Soviet attacks were repulsed. “The enemy lost 2000 men on the eas. front,” continues the Finnish communique. “Many were taken prisoner A large number of enemy tanks anc vehicles were destroyed. ’