NAZI ENCIRCLEMENT AVOIDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 15 August 1941, Page 5

NAZI ENCIRCLEMENT AVOIDED

BUDENNY’S ARMY UKRAINE" BATTLE CENTRAL ZONE FIGHT SMOLENSK EVACUATION (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Ahsii.) LONDON, Aug. 14. 1 (Reed. Aug. 15, 10.40 a.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s special correspondent in Stockholm says that Marshal Budenny succeeded in avoiding encirclement by the German thrust into the Ukraine, while at the same time leaving behind a force approaching 100,000 men to defend isolated Odessa. His main armies, reinforced by 10 crack Soviet divisions hitherto held in-reserve, now stand regrouped solidly and orderly eastward of Uman on the east bank of the Bug where they are increasingly resisting the German southern drive. The German casualties in the last few days of fighting around Uman are reported to exceed 10,000. A Russian communique issued early this afternoon states: “During the night of August 13-14 nothing of importance occurred on the fronts. Our air force, in co-operation with the land forces, continued to inflict blows on motor mechanised units and infantry of the enemy and on his aerodromes. In the last few days warships and aeroplanes of the Baltic Fleet sank four German torpedo boats and also several transports carrying a large German infantry unit, guns, tanks, aircraft and other equipment.” New Russian Place Name A Moscow communique issued last night stated: “Fighting continued today in the directions of Kakisalmi, Starsya Russa, Smolensk and ByelayaTserkov. Our troops evacuated Smolensk a few days ago. Our submarines sank a 1500-ton German tanker in the Baltic.” The mention of Staraya Russa in the Soviet communique as a new area of fighting suggests that the Germans have made a drive of 40 miles from Soltsa since the fighting was first announced there on Monday and also means that the Germans have pushed forward 90 miles since the battle south-west from Leningrad first developed at Pskov. A Berlin communique issued to-day states: “German troops, in further unceasing pursuit, reached the coast of the Black Sea between Odessa and the Bug estuary. Operations on the rest of the front are proceeding according to plan. The Luftwaffe on Wednesday inflicted heavy blows on transport ships on the coast off Odessa and Nikolaer which were prepared for the flight of Soviet troops. Two transports were destroyed and five other large ships severely damaged.” Berlin Claim to Prisoners The Berlin military spokesman yesterday claimed that 1,000,000 Russians nad so far been taken prisoner, the bulk of whom were being classified for work, chiefly as farm labourers. He added that it was expected the Russian defenders of Odessa would fight bitterly to the finish. The Germans were advancing on the city from three sides. It is officially denied in Bucharest that the Russians destroyed the Cernavoda bridge on the Danube. It is claimed that only small fragments of bombs hit the bridge, which is still intact and is carrying normal train traffic.