GERMAN REPORTS

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 5

GERMAN REPORTS

Central Sectors RUSSIANS BEATEN. LONDON, July 31. A German communique . issued yesterday- afternoon states that operations in the Smolensk region aie progressing “according to plan." The communique states: German, Roumanian, and Hungar.an iivops are pursuing the beaten foe in toe southern sector. Further progress has been made on the other fronts, and several encircled enemy groups have been destroyed. A German division in the central sector has encircled strong Russian detachments. A broadcaster from Germany to the United States summaries the German view- as being that Russia’s fighting power had been finally destroyed. Another broadcast.ng to Spain said the Russians could not now even retreat in order. It is expected that the next few days will be critical in the defence of Moscow, and will show whether the Russians are able merely to delay the Germans. or to stop them. Moscow had an air-raid alert this morning, lasting 40 minutes, but no incidents are reported

The German Official News Agency says: The German forces are engaged in extremely- complicated manoeuvres to prevent the Russian forces from retreating beyond the Urals or behind Moscow, where they night reorganise. The German Air Force is concentrating its attacks on communications in the rear of the Russian lines, while attacks are also being made on the advanced Russian forces.

The German News Agencv claims that a Russian division, at Mohilev, was wiped out on July 19. after fierce resistance and despite unfavourable weather. German troops in the northern sector defeated the remnants of five Russian divisions, killing 4000 men.

Northern Fronts

ENEMY CLAIM SUCCESSES.

LONDON. July 21. The Germans report further successes on the Finnish front. The German News Agency claims that the Finnish-German troops broke through the Russian fortified positions near Salla. THRUST ON LENINGRAD. LONDON, July 21. German progress towards Len ngrad seems to have halted. There is no indication how much of Esthonia the Germans have occupied. Presumably more desperate efforts against Leningrad await consolidation of their position in Esthoina.

SOUTHERN SECTORS. RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL. LONDON, July 21. The Russians in Bessarabia riave apparently completed a withdrawal on a substantial part of the Dniester front. There is no evidence to support the German claims that Axis forces are Dursuing the defeated Russians. On the contrary, it appears the Russians, where they have withdrawn on this front, have done s.o under sufficient rearguard actions. The German report says that German and Roumanian forces m <*l Bessarabia have cont’nued the’ pursuit of the enemy on the' e°st b’’nk of the Dniester, after breaking their resistance. Desperate attempts bv encircled Russian troops to br°ak through at a number of points in the east front were frustrated and the Germans claim that the enem> suffered hea v ” losses.