ROUMANIAN OIL

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 5

ROUMANIAN OIL

Turkey Cut Off RUSSIAN AIR RAID DAMAGi..

(Rec. 5.5). LONDON July 22. “With the arrival in Russia of British experts on the Roumanian o.i production, Russian air raids against oilfields in Roumania have become increasingly deadly," the London “Daily Mail’s" Istanbul correspondent says. “Millions of gallons of petrol have been destroyed. Oil. wells themselves have been damaged, and also a pipeline head at Giurgiu. It is stated by experts that Roumanian oil production during the next three months will be reduced bv one third Russian bombings at Galati and Sulina severely damaged dredging plant and dykes, which are most Important, because the Danube River is constantly silting up, and requires constant dredging." “The Times’’ Istanbul correspondent says: “Since the Russ’an-Ge. man war began, it has reduced Black Sea traffic to a standstill. Turkey has been cut off from Roumania, her principal source of oil. Even <ne transport in drums of the Roumanian oil overland has been interrupted after the destruction of bridges durthe Balkans war." "Stoppages in the Roumanian oi. supply to Turkey have been attr 'but - ed to Russian air raids at Ploesli. but damage to the oil plants, although substantial, does not justify the exaggerated optimism of P r0 ‘ claiming their complete destruction. A Moscow message says: Damage to Ploesti oil n'ants as a result of Soviet air raids is estimated at £238,000.

GERMAN PLANES GO TO THE WEST.

GOTHENBURG, July 21 The “Posten’s” Berlin correspondent, quoting informed circles, says that man v of the best German P-anes have been removed from the Russian front westwards. Increased act.x my against England is expected. It is also learned that America’s intervention is requiring Germany to allocate morp planes for the battle of the Atlantic.

London Comments RED ARMY’S CONFIDENCE,

LONDON, July 21.

Comments of military writers in London emphasise the Red Armys high confidence in its struggle againsl the German invaders. It is considered in London that the results >,f a month’s fighting justify the betel that the Russians will outlast the Germans in the titanic struggle in which every modern weapon, sabovage, and vitriolic propaganda is being used on a scale never before contemplated. Current Russian successes mt y be ascribed, according to “The Times’s ’ correspondent on the German frontier to tho Russians’ unorthodox methods, in offering most stuboorn resistance long after, under all recognised standards, they should have accepted defeat. This makes the Germans uncertain when safely to proceed. A favourite trick is to lei the Panzers through, after which the Russian armoured units emerge from concealment. The Germans, thus taken unawares, enter txvo murderous fires at point-blank range. Chaos follows, but the Russians recover more quickly, because tney are not surprised. The Germans admit that the Russians shoxv an uncanny faculty for adapting themselvess to any change' in German tactics. Tney attack German infantry who have been led to believe the xvay is clear. Russian tanks and motorised ro.ee.: frequently join up xvith the Germans at dusk, following on until the precise moment for bring on them from the rear —usually just as the Germans advance into ambush. The Germans noxv suggest that an immediate drive against Moscow is not contemplated, and the Moscowites remain calm, making no preparations for evacuation of the Government or Diplomatic Corps. Whoever holds Smolensk, the Germans are certainly not complete masters thereabouts, and this, like other xvido sections of the front, is taking on the characteristics of trench warfare, while the Russians are seizing the opportunity to throw up new tie d fortifications between Smolensk and Moscow. It is clear that fight.ng is going on from 50 to 140 miles behind the furthest points the Germans say thev have reached.

For six days, the Russians have held the Germans virtually sta; iohary, and comment from German and neutral sources tends to confirm that this means a further check to rhe German advance.

The Germans sav the Russians cannot now ever retreat in order, but there is nothing in what has happened since July 12 to justify those extravagances. In fact, the Russian? have been, and are fighting stubbornly evervxvhere The German radio announced that Major-General Lancelie, Storm Troop leader, was killed in act on. He xvas commanding a division on tiie eastern front. Fighting in the main areas of the German-Russian conflict still continues with unabated severity. The Independent French Agency says the Germans require more troops to hold down the invaded territory. wherefore thev have asked Italy to send an expeditionary corps of at least ten divisions, and asked the Roumanians to mobilise mon men and materials SIR S. CRiPPS. 8.0.W. RUGBY, July 21. Sir S Cripps British Ambassador, and the British Military Mission, were given a. great ovation, according to press messages, when they attended a concert on Sunday n.gfic at Moscow. The announcement of their presence was made from the ~t?ge and such cheers as followed the announcement, have not been heard in Moscow for the Brit'sh since M> Eden’s visit in 1935.