ELUDING NAZIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 9

ELUDING NAZIS

SOVIET TACTICS UKRAINE FORCES CHAGRIN IN BERLIN CHIEF AIM FAILING (Elec. Tel. Copyright—Unitea Press Assn.) ' (Reed. Aug. 10, 3 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 18. Although the Russian communiques continue merely to record a continuation of fighting along the entire battlefront. reports from Berlin indicate that the German thrust in the Ukraine is not yet slowing down. According to the German High Command spokesman German infantry units, after mopping-up Krivoy-Rog, -reached the Dnieper 80 miles eastward after forced marches and are now advancing towards the Soviet industrial city of Onipropetrovsk. Infantry arc stated to have accompanied tank and artillery units. The German guns are reported to be now commanding a stretch of river hindering the withdrawal of the Soviet troops. The Roma radio claimed that the Soviet forces are attempting to escape in a north-easterly direction. Marshal Budenny is trying to break through the Hungarian, forces in the north, while Italians and Rumanians are attacking from the south. It seems apparent that Marshal Budenny does not intend to make a determined stand inside the Dnieper bend, but whether from choice or necessity is not clear. Choosing Battleground Some German reports mention stiff Russian rearguard fighting, this supporting the view that a large if not the chief part of Marshal Budenny’s armies has retired according to plan, rather than give the Germans decisive battle which is desired nearer home. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that certain surprise, apparently reflecting chagrin, is noticeable in the German comments which ask why the Russians have not opposed them with the usual tenacity. One fact is clear—the Germans have not attained the chief avowed object of destroying the enemy’s forces, rather than the capture of territory. Jubilant at the capture of Nikolayev and Krivoy-Rog, the Wilhelmstrasse confidently predicts that the present week will see the completion of the West Ukraine fighting. The Wilhelmstrasse also claims that this third phase of operations is destined to prove more decisive. The Moscow correspondent of Reuter’s agency states that the evacuation of Nikolayev was inevitable if the Russians felt obliged to straighten out the line after the fall of KrivoyRog with a view to basing a solid defence line on the Dnieper bend. Efforts at Odessa There is still no information as to whether the Russians intend to make Odessa another Tobruk, but German propaganda is attempting to make out it will be another Dunkirk. The Berlin radio claims that Russian troops encircled in the Odessa area are making desperate .efforts to leave by sea, but are subject to relentless attacks from the air. - - A Hungarian communique says: “Since August 8 our troops have advanced 120 to 150 miles along the River Bug and have joined the Germans in the Nikolayev battle.” Despatches from' Stockholm indicate that while the centre sector is relatively quiet fierce fighting is occurring on the right and left flanks of Smolensk. The Berlin radio admitted that German tank units were engaged m heavy fighting south-eastward of Smolensk. The German radio claimed the destruction of two Soviet divisions.