ALL-OUT EFFORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20637, 18 August 1941, Page 5

ALL-OUT EFFORT

WINTER PROSPECT SOUTHERN PRESSURE CONTRASTING CLAIMS (El6c. Tel Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 18. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 17. A decisive stage is now being reached in the two-month-old war on Germany’s east front, but at present Hitler’s all-out effort to smash the Russian armies before the winter is seemingly being checked at all important points of the 2000-mile line. A Soyiet communique issued early this morning states: “During Saturday our troops continued fighting along the whore front. Our air-force, m co-operation with the land forces, continued to deal blows to the enemy troops and attacked aircraft on aerodromes. According to precise data now available 20 German aircraft were destroyed on Thursday, not 21 as previously reported. On friuay, 29 German aircraft were destroyed. vYe losj 24. ’’ A Russian communique issued at midnight on Friday stated: “Our troops continued fierce fighting against tile enemy along tne wnoie from. Critical Position Friday radio reports staled that despite the German claims that the Russian army in the Ukraine was approaching utter collapse, Marshal Budenny was reported xo be successfully continuing tne withdrawal of ms forces from the tnreatened areas west of tne Dnieper. However, mere was little doubt that Marshal Budenny' was in a critical position. Moscow denied the German claim to have captured Krivoirog. The. Berlin radio, however, is to-day boasting of a' "week of successes.” ft states tnat a new German movement has begun on the north front, but the forces are greatly handicapped by the difficult terrain. “The Soviet Command is endeavouring to evade encirclement, but the fighting capacity of the Red Army no longer seems sufficient,” states the German radio. “The German armies fighting on the east and west shores of Lake Peipus will soon link up with the new operations. They also started initial successes achieved north of the Pripe: marches.” Main Nazi Pressure The main Nazi pressure is still in the Ukraine, where Hitler is reported to have taken personal command. Berlin now states that the south- »•'" western Ukraine is dotted with large pockets of Russian resistance, some of which are large, allowing the Russians certain freedom of movement. This contrasts with the earlier German claim that Marshal Budenny’s main forces were encircled and again indicates that Marshal Budenny has slipped out of the trap set for him west of the Dnieper. ; The absence of German claims to have captured large hauls of prisoners is also regarded as suggesting an orderly Russian withdrawal. The Berlin radio claims that the 6th and 12th Russian armies in the Ukraine w'ere wiped out and that Lieutenant-General Musichenko, the commander of the 6th Army and also the commander of the neighbouring army were both captured. The Berlin radio added that between July 22 and August 13 one advanced German unit captured 79 guns, 79 lorries, 250 vehicles and 1000 horses which were dispatched to Berlin. Raids on Odessa A German - report of intense air activity over the ‘Ukraine stated that Stukas attacked Odessa where they damaged a light cruiser and also Ukraine railways and roads which were clogged with Russian troops and supplies. Dispatches emphasised the desperateness of the fighting in which no quarter is asked or given. Berlin reports that 131 Soviet planes were destroyed on Friday for the loss of three German. The Berlin radio also stated that bombers blocked the Stalin Canal, the southern flood gates of which were destroyed and the northern directly hit. A Finnish communique claims the capture of Jakkima and Lahdenponja, north of Lake Ladoga. The Frankfurter Zeitung says that the Russians’ intention to wear down the German army by constantly repeated pressure of superior forces is being shown more and more clearly.