RED ARMY CONTROL

Grey River Argus, 19 July 1941, Page 5

RED ARMY CONTROL

Political Officers BEING BROUGHT BACK AGAIN. TO “CUT ALL TREASON.” [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.J (Rec. 8.30). LONDON, July 17. It is announced in Moscow that Political Commissars are being again introduced in the Red Army. A Soviet decree states: “War has radically changed the conditions and the political work in the Red Army, and has made the duties of the Regimental and the divisional commanders more complex, demanding full assistance of political workers. Next to the commanding officers, Political Commissars will be responsible for the conduct of the military . operations, and also for the behaviour of the troops. They must give full assistance to the commanding officers. The political workers must set a personal example. The” must inspire the units in the fight. They must carry on a ruthless struggle against the cowards and the panic-mongers, and must cut all treason at the very root. The commanding officer is the head of the regiment. The Political Commissar is the Regiment’s father and soul.” Russian Counter Attack SUCCESS IN BOBRUISK SECTOR. EAST OF THE MARSHES. LONDON. July 17. “The Times" military correspondent savs: There has been a Russian counter-attack against the southern wing of the German drive towards Moscow. It has been marie thi .«ugh Bobruisk, west of the Dneiper River, and .appears to have had considerable success. Its force has probably not yet been expended The Germans have made a traditional reply to it bv accentuating their pressure elsewhere. The Germans thus rushed an offensive on the northern wing, through Lone’. The Russians say that vesterdav there was fighting in the Bobruisk sector. Bobruisk is about 30 miles west of Rogachev, on the Dnieper River. No details of ai'.v developments in the German thrust auainst the Ukraine in the Novor-md-Volvnsk sector are given b v the Russians, who sneak only of continue:’heavv fi"ht : ng

Soviet Report ; NO CHANGE THURSDAY. IN DISPOSITIONS OF RED ARMY. (Rec. 9.30). MOSCOW, July 18. A Soviet communique states: Fighting continued on Thursday in the sectors of Pskov, Porkhov, Polotsk (in the north), and in the Smolensk and Novograd-Volynsk sectors (centre and south-west), and also on the Bessarabian front, with no important change in the disposition of our troops. _ . “Our Air Force operated against enemy motorised and mechanised troops. It also destroyed enemy planes on aerodromes. “A German submarine was sunk by a mine in Varanger Fjord. ROUMANIAN OIL FIELDS. WORKERS REFUSE TO EXTINGUISH THEM. (Rec. 9.30). MOSCOW, July 18. /' Soviet communique states: Roumanian and Gorman troops in the region of Ploesti .are carrying out wholesale arrests of workers and their families for refusal to put out fires caused by the Soviet bombing oil wells. Kiev Attacked FIGHTING IN THE STREETS. LONDON, Julv 17. The London “Daily Telegraph’s’ Stockholm correspondent says: lhe battle-stained shot-oierced panzer units are fighting furiously against desperate Russian resistance to temnt to gain a foothold in the Kiev outskirts. Russian heavy tanks, including 150 tonners, have been thrown into the battle, which is . raging in the suburban streets. Anti-tank and machine-gun fire is meeting the Germans from every window and alley The Soviet military, authorities say the occupation of Kiev would not oe a deadly blow, because it is 500 miles from the centre of the Ukraine’s industrial mineral weal't.h. Preparations for sabotage of tne wheatfields east of Kiev, if necessary, are complete. The Germans claim to be close vU Kiev and that its fall is imminent The Germans mention a deep network of pillboxes, and claim to have captured several hundred. UNDERGROUND FORTRESS.