CONFLICTING NEWS

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 5

CONFLICTING NEWS

GERMAN CLAIMS Denied by Soviet Main Soviet Armies STILL INTACT. RAIN IN SOME SECTORS. FATE OF SMOLENSK. (Rec. 6.30). LONDON, July 18. It is estimated at Berlin that the Soviet Army still has five million men, despite its having suffered enormous losses. Neutrals believe that Germany has three million men engaged and her Allies eight hundred thousand men. Neutral observers consider Germany’s most spectacular claims are based on the progress of her advanced motorised columns, which the infantry. in many cases, has not consolidated. The chances of the German iniantry keeping pace with the panzer divisions is even reported to oe growing worse rather tnan improving. The main Russian armies are still intact, able to give blow for blow; and still capable of taking tne initiative. Accordnig to the Moscow paper, “Isvestia,” trench warfare with bayonet fighting in mud, has developec. on some of the fronts in Russia. ‘•lzvestia’’ says this development arose from Russians digging inuividual trenches in order to escape from Germany artillery and bombmo-. vVhen German infantry appeared, the Russians rose and attacneci witn bayonets, and one battalion repulsed eight successive German assaults, wnile another withstood the enemy lor twenty hours and then counterattacked. e t . What may prove news of tne first importance is contained in a brief message from the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of Great. Britain who says:. “Rain is falling over the battlefields of western Russia, threatening to turn into a vast bog the territory churned up by Hitlers blitzkrieg vehicles.' SOVIET’S FRIDAY REPORT. (Rec. 5.5). LONDON, July 18. Friday’s Moscow communique reported heavy lighting in the following sectors:—Pakov-Porkhov and Polotsk (to the east of Estonia), Revail, or Talenn (Estonian capital), and Smolensk (centre). It states: Both sides have suffered heavy losses. A Russian communique states: According to incomplete data, 22 enemy 'planes were shot down in the air and destroyed on the ground, yesterday. Our losses were eight 'planes. The Russian communique repeats earlier .statement!! that lighting is continuing in the Smolensk area, and that on the rest of the front, there were no substantial changes. RUSSIANS CAPTURE CITIES. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON. Julv 19. .The Moscow paper “Red Star’ claims that Russian guer.Uas, operating in the German rear, captured two neighbouring cities. It states strong partisan bands helped to surround and wipe out German garrisons . Further Intense Fighting SOVIET’S SATURDAY REPORT. AIR force - successful, (Rec. 9.10). LONDON. July 19. Little fresh news of the RussianGerman lighting was contained in the mid-dav Russian communique on Saturday. It said: “During the night of July 18/19. our troops continued intense lighting in the Polotsk. Nevel, Smolensk, and Bobruisk • sectors. Nothing of importance has occurred cn the other sectors of the front. “Our Air Force during Friday and Saturday night destroyed mechanised units of the enemy, and acted against the enemy’s air force on his aerodromes. In addition to figures previously stated, during July 16 and 17, our air force destroyed thirtynine enemy planes. Our losses in the same period were sixteen planes. During Friday, our Air Force destroyed thirty-two enemy planes. LATEST RUSSIAN REPORT. 71 ENEMY PLANES DOWNED ON FRIDAY. (Rec. 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. A Moscow communique states: Stubborn lighting has continued in the direction of Folots, Kneval. Smolensk, and Novograd-Volynsk. Nothing of significance has occurred in other regions. “Our Air Force on Friday destroyed seventy-one enemy planes in combat, not thirty-two as previously reported. Roumanian o'll Loss RUSSIANS DAMAGE FIELDS GREATLY. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON. July 19. It is reported from Ankara, tnat Russian bombings have so seventh damaged the Pioesti oil fields, that the Roumanian authorities have notified Turkish importers that oil deliveries must, drastically be cut in the near future, Roumania’s oil relining capacity having been reduced bv millions cf tons yearly. The Uniren refinery was destroyed, together with a subsidiary plant. One plant burned for eighteen hours. Two hundred thousand tons of petroleum products and eighteen tanks and other equipment were set on fire. The Red Air Force reports the destruction of two transports and live oil barges on the Danube. GERMAN CONVOY LOSSES. DUE TO RUSSIAN ATTACK. (Rec. 6.30). LONDON. July 18. The London “Daily Telegraph’s" Moscow correspondent says: “More detailed information as to a Russian attack on a German convoy on July 12th., reveals that four German destroyers and at least thirteen armed transports, were sunk. The convoy consisted of fifty vessels. It was unlikely that many of them succeeded in reaching their own shores. 11 German Ships SUNK IN BALTIC. LATER MOSCOW REPORT. (Rec. 9.0). LONDON, July 20. A Moscow communique claims that the Soviet Air Force on Saturday continued destruction of enemy mechanised units, motorised troops and planes. It says: “Our reconnaissances discovered a large and strongly-es-corted convoy of enemy transports in the Baltic Sea. Our planes, motor-torpedo-boats. and destroyers, sank ‘ eleven transports and rm oil tanker. Our losses were one plane, and one mo to- torpedo-boat.” A NAZI LEADER KILLED. (Rec. 1.47). LONDON, July 20. The Moscow Radio reports that Fritz Mehnert. Deputy-Chief of the Nazi Labour Front, has been killed in action.

Present Position

LATEST BATTLES. 100 MILES EAST OF STALIN LINE. (Rec. 1.47 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. The Berlin radio has summed up the position at the end of one month’s fighting, as follows: — First: The Stalin Line has been broken at .all decisive points. Secondly: The city of Kishinev in the south, has been captured. Thirdly: The Finnish Alrmy is advancing on both sides of Lake Lactoga. Fourthly: There are battles now in progress some hundred miles east oi the Stalin Line, thus paving the way for decisive events. This summary is in mild contrast to the High Command’s flambuoyant statement a week ago. GERMAN REPORTS. FRIDAY OPERATIONS ABOUT SMOLENSK.

LONDON, July 18.

The Germans’ greatest penetration has been in the direction of Smolensk, 350 miles having been covered from East Prussia since the outbreak of the war. The German Radio to-night interrupted its programme to announce the capture of Smolensk, which, it was claimed had been achieved on Wednesday. A German communique was read stating that the stronglv-fortified Stalin Line had been penetrated in the Vitebsk area, and widened in the vicinity of Smolensk. The city fell on July 16 after stubborn lighting. All Russian attempts to recapture the citv failed.

An earlier German communique made no mention of fighting in tne Smolensk area, although the Germans had previously claimed that the citv had been captured. The ‘German communique claims that the break-through the stronglyfortified Stalin Line, between Mohilev and Vitebsk has been widened beyond Smolensk. All Russian attempts to recapture Smolensk have failed, and it is claimed that German troons are over sixty miles beyond the Stalin Line at some points. Operations are proceeding favourably in all sectors. ENEMY CLAIM. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON, July 19. The capture of Novograd-Volynsk west of Kiev, is claimed bv the German News Agency. There is no confirmation of this from the Russian sources. RUSSIAN CLAIM. SMOLENSK NOT LOST (Rec. 11.59). LONDON. July 20. The Russians have not yet admitted the loss of Smolensk On the contrary, thev imply that then armies are still fighting in that sector. \ FATE OF SMOLENSK. ENEMY’S CLAIM TO CAPTURE. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON. July 19. The German High Command claimed that Smolensk was captured on Wednesday. The latent Rus-ian communique', however, does not rdmt the fall of the city, although it reports that there has been heavy fightin" in the Smolensk sector. Amplifying the German claim to have captured Smolensk, the German News Agency says: “While there is fierce artillery fire still going on round Smolensk, a German det°chment in a lightning attack, penetrated the town, and occupied th" outer districts. There were consid erab'e Soviet forces destroyed.” German Report SMOLENSK BURNT BY RUSSIANS. (Rec. 11.59). LONDON, July 20. The Berlin radio reports that Smolensk City was set on fire by the retreating Russians on Wednesday, and that it is still burning. The radio describes the city as a “smoking scene of desolation.” The radio alleges that German sol-' diers brought in hundreds of char red bodies from the Smolensk gaol It also alleges that the Deputy-Com-missar of the citv had ordered the evacuation of women and children, but that, when this could not be effected, he and his family fled, leaving the city to its fate The Berlin radio also referred, to endless streams of captured Russians being taken through . the streets which were strewn with wrecked tanks, guns, and lorries. RAID ON MOSCOW. DESTRUCTION OF KREMLIN REPORTED. (Rec. 1.45). LONDON, July 20. Reports from Stockholm say that the Germans heavily bombed Moscow on Saturday. Unconfirmed renorts, however, have stated that the Kremlin has been laid in ruins, and that the Academy of Sciences and cultural buildings there have also been destroyed. The Moscow Radio was nevertheless, still broadcasting on Saturday. Officials in Berlin said they had no knowledge of a raid on Moscow. M. STALIN WAR LEADER. MARSHAL TIMOSHENSHO SECOND IN COMMAND. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON. July 19. The Moscow radio stated: M. Stalin has been appointed Commissar for Defence, and Marshal Timoshensho Vice-Commissar. RUSSIA’S FOOD HARVEST. (Rec. 1.47). LONDON, July 20. Moscow reports the feverish gathering in of the Roumanian harvest, throughout the country. It estimates by July 10. there had been collected three times as much as at the corresponding period of last year. Collective farms in Georgia had handed over six times as much . as last year, while the rate of collection in the Crimea had enormously increased over the previous record. The crops generally were heavier than in 1940, and the quality was excellent, especially those used for bread. M. STALIN’S SON. REPORTED CAPTURE. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON, July 19. The Vichy News Agency mentions an unconfirmed report that the Germans have taken prisoner M. Stalin’s son by a former marriage, who is an infantry lieutenant. BRITISH AID FOR SOVIET. AMBASSADOR’S HOPES. (Rec. 11.0). LONDON, July 19. The Soviet Ambassador, M Maisky, sent a message to a function at Bristol to celebrate the Anglo-Soviet pact. He said: ’’l have not the slightest doubt that the final victory will be ours. If British aid is given to the Soviet fully and quicklv, then I am confident that victory will come sooner and that the sacrifices will be small.”

KIEV SECTOR

HEAVY FIGHTING. LONDON. July 19. A German communique says: In the Kiev sector a Soviet Dwisiona. General and numerous h.gh start’ officers have been captured. (itec. H.oU). LuiUJU.x. July 2b. With Hitler’s war against Russia entering the fifth week, fierce battles continue to rage in the main sectors of the front. Berlin claims to have taken Novo-grad-Volynsk on Saturday. This D not admitted in the Prussian night communique on Saturday, which' declared that fighting continues in that sector. The Germans claim, however, confirms all that Moscow has reported about there being heavy fighting at this point, which is fai behind the German advance lines. KISHINEV AFLAME. “SCORCHED EARTH” PLAN. LONDON July 20. The Rome radio said: The city of Kishenev has been in flames for' three days. Efforts to quench the fires have been unsuccessful. The Russians set fire to every house. ENEMY CROSSING OF THE DNEISTER.. (Rec. 1.47). LONDON, July 20. The German Official News Agency states: The crossin" of the Dneister River was reported in a Berlin communique on Saturday, and was effected in the neighbourhood of Kamenet and Podolsk. SOUTHERN ADVANCE. CLAIMED BY GERMANS. LONDON, July 18. A German and Roumanian com munique claims that strategic key positions in Bessarabia have been captured. Hotin, Soroca, Orheiu. and Kishenev have been occupied, according to the enemy. These towns are south of the river Dneister. which the Germans will have to cross to enter the rich grain fields of the Ukraine. SOUTHERN ADVANCE. CLAIMED BY GERMANY. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON. Julv 19. A German communique claims that German and Roumanian troops from Bessarabia have’ forced a passage across the River Dniester at several points. ROUMANIANS CELEBRATE. RECOVERY OF TERRITORY. (Rec. 1.50), LONDON, Julv 20. A message from Bucharest says: The w'hole of Roumania is celebrating the recovery of Bessarabia and of the The streets of Bucharest are decorated with flags and portraits of Kin" Michael, General Antonescu, Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini NORTHERN SECTORS. GERMAN REPORTS. LONDON, July 18.

The Berlin Radio claims that a Russian aeroplane denot containing u.aoo machines, was captured. In the Lake Peipus area 1500 prisoners were taken. The Russians left many dead on the battlefields, includir>~ women wearing civilian clothes under uniforms. " FINNISH ADVANCE. IN KARELIAN REGION. (Rec. 6.30). LONDOin, July 18. It is reported from Helsinki tnat the Finnish forces have captured Vartails, which is thirty-three miles northward of Sortavsla. The-- found the factories and houses wrecked and aflame. The town of Enso was found also in ruins. A Finnish communique states that German and Finnish troops in th? Lake Ladogar-Karelia area have advanced ninety miles in six days, cutting off large enemy forces from any way of retreat. German troops advancing on Leningrad, captured 3,000 prisoners, including a whole battalion of women. A FINNISH ADVANCE. LONDON. July J 9. A German communique states: The Finnish Armv broke stiff enemy resistance, and pressed forward to tne northern shores of Lake lodogu PANZERS IN AFRICA. RUSSIANS’ REPORT OF REMOVAL. (Rec. 9.0). LONDON. July 19. The Moscow radio quotes a Turkish newspaper, the “Tan,” as saying that. Marsha) Rommel (German tank expert', together with the German Panzer Corps in Africa, has been moved from Libya to the BulgarianTurkish frontier. ~ The London “Sunday Dispatch states it believes it to be significant that recent Cairo communiques have not mentioned brushes with the Germans. GERMAN LOSSES. REPORTED TO CAUSE .CONCERN. (Rec. 6.30). LONDON, July 18. Heavy German casualties are piovoking increasing disquiet among i workers in Germany, according to reports from the German frontier. , A fall in factory production is one result. A correspondent of -ine Times” on the German frontier, says: A failure to continue a breathless advance against Russia gravely imperil the Nazi regime, ine German press, therefore, has rai&eci the public’s hopes of another tic week-end victory. The reality is that German losses, already appalling are expected to become heavier. The capture of Smolensk would seriously prejudice the -Kus- I sian defence because it i° a crucial railway junction of a great industrial centre but the Russians relentless policy’ of destruction will deprive the Germans of concrete advantages. Furthermore, the urgent < need of a quick succession of vic- j tories impells the Germans to pusn cn hurriedly to Moscow without i chance of consolidation. 1 The Stockholm correspondent ot | the “Daily Telegraph” says: There have been persistent reports that General Guderiau, the organising genius of Germany’s mechanised armies, was killed on the Russian ■ front. These reports have heightened the anxiety spreading throughout Germany. A neutral diplomat said I that General Guderain was killed near Luck, and was probably the victim of Russian guerilla troops. GERMAN WOUNDED. NEGLECT ALLEGED. „ LONDON,. July 19. A secret German Anti-Nazi Party radio violently (attacked the treatment of German wounded on the eastern front. It alleged that wounded were dying in thousands because, after a simple injection, they had been transported back from the | fronts in carts for hundreds of miles over bumpy roads before receiving further treatment.