GERMAN DESIGNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 14 August 1941, Page 9

GERMAN DESIGNS

URKRAINE THRUST CAUTION OF FINNS CONSERVING MAN-POWER (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Pre9s Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 13, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. Finnish military experts arriving in Berlin from the Russo-Finnish frontier to-day declared that the capture of Leningrad was not expected for several weeks. The experts added that an offensive against Leningrad was not envisaged for some weeks unless the German offensive in the southern Ukraine terminated earlier than was scheduled. The Finnish troops north-eastward of Lake Ladoga are now about 65 miles .northward of the Stalin Canal and separated from Leningrad by swamps where progress must be slow because tanks and heavy artillery cannot easily be used. The Finns emphasise the imperative need for conserving Finnish manpower. The Finnish troops, it was stated, had not attempted to storm Hanko because they were sure it would fall into their hands after the collapse of Russia. The Stockholm paper, Social Demokraten reports that the Russians on the Finnish front are using shells containing petrol which bursts 200 ft. over the ground, igniting forests. Reports from the Viazma front state that the Russians are using gigantic modern tanks reaching 250 tons in weight with 9 m.m. steel plating, 75 rn.m. guns and flame-throwers. A neutral journalist who visited Smolensk declared that never before had he seen such a frightful spectacle. Everything was burnt or battered down, except a bank and a large hotel. It was a city of the dead.