GERMANS DELAY

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1941, Page 5

GERMANS DELAY

THRUST AT LENINGRAD

From Finland WIDE SWEEP THREATENED.

LONDON, July 23. A Russian communique issued at midnight on Tuesday, shows that there is a new enemy thrust at Leningrad. This is being made from Finland along the narrow neck ot land between Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega, 80 miles to the east. The Russians say that heavy fighting- is going on in the Petrozavodsk sector. Petrozavodsk, on the west shore of Lake Onesa, is a station on the railway running from Leningrad north to the Arctic nort of Murmansk. A successful drive in this sector would endanger the Russian forces on the Karelian Isthmus and would threaten the defenders of Leningrad with a great sweep to their rear. A Russian communiuue this morning stated: During the night of July 22/23, our troops continued stubborn fighting in the Petrozavodsk and Porkov sector.

“The Times” Stockholm correspondent reports: Despite the Russian reference to fighting in the Petrozavodsk sector, information from Finland is that General Mannerheim’s trooDs are scarcely within 100 miles of Petrozavodsk, and have not crossed the 1939 Finnish frontier. There is no trustworthy evidence that the enemy has anywhere reached the Leningrad-Murmansk railway. . The Associated Press correspondent with the Finnish Army at Karelia says: Clouds of smoke on the eastern horizon show how closely the Russians are following the “scorched earth” policy. Terrific Russian artillery concentrations, covering the withdrawals, keep up shelling through the night, reducing woods and abandoned villages to ashes. The indescribably bad roads are heavily mined. It is impossible to detect all the mines. Many German vehicles have been blown up. The situation in the Leningrad region is obscure. The Russians don’t believe the Germans can thrust either across the highly fortified Karelian Isthmus, across which stands the old Mannerheim Line, or around Lake Ladoga, with its cliflicult terrain cut by lakes and waterways. The danger to Leningrad is possibly only from the south-west, hut the main Russian forces in that, region are grimly holding on around Pskov. The Germans there find themselves in a position not unlike that at Smolensk. Furthermore, the whole region between Pskov and Leningrad, and between Tallinn and Leningrad along the coast, is largely made up of forests and marshes with few roads.” The heavy fighting on the Baltic States front has moved from the Pskov sector to the Porkhov sector, 45 miles to the east, and. this indicates that the German thrust north has made no progress. The Soviet Command is hurling in enormous reserves seeking to protect Leningrad. In the northern sector. Jfinns and Germans are attacking in the neighbourhood of Petrozavodsk, north-east of Lake Ladoga. Reports confirm that the Russians here are making withdrawals. This effort by the Germans may form part of a pincer movement, with Leningrad as the ultimate object. This northern attack would operate in connection with the German thrust from the direction of Estonia. Petrozavodsk is on the Leningrad-Murmansk railway., and on the south-west shore of Lake Omego. The German radio stated that in the drive to Leningrad, the Germans are held up at Lake Peipus, but they have advanced into the narrow gap between Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga. The Germans have still not reached the main defences of Leningrad, where they expect to find the toughest resistance yet met. A! further German official communique states: The operations on the Finnish front are proceeding according to plan, with further gains, of territory. A Finnish communique claims that major Soviet units are uncircled lor several sectors. A number of strategically mportant points in Karelia have been reoccupied.

GERMAN PARACHUTISTS. ANNIHILATED NEAR LENINGRAD

(Rec., 10.30). LONDON, July 24. A Russian radio station in the Baltic region, announced that a multitude of German parachutists landed near Leningrad. It stated that they were annihilated. Russian Report FIGHTING ON FIVE FRONTS. (Rec. 11.40). RUGBY, July 24. There is little change in the situation to be seen in the latest Russian communique. It states: “On Wednesday there has been stubborn fighting going on in the directions of Polotsk, Neval, Smolensk, and J nomir, and also on the Bessarabian sector of the front. In one part of the Bessarabian sector we annihilated an enemy motorised regiment, and captured four hundred trucks, three hundred motor-cycles and armoured cars. 25 guns, eight trench mortars, and other armaments. Our Air Force in the course of Wednesday was dealing concentrated blows . at enemy motorised and me-lrmise troops and his air force on aerodromes.” RED ARMY STRATEGY. EARLY STAND NOT INTENDED. (Rec. 9.30). LONDON, July 24. The “Daily Telegraph” Stockholm correspondent reports: A neutral military official who has just arrived here from Russia, stated: “It would have been madness to believe that it would be possible for the Germans to smash the resistance of the Red Army within eight weeks. The Russians never intended to offer serious opposition in Poland or in White Russia, where strong Fifth Columns might have made the acceptance of a decisive battle risky or fatal. ’ SOVIET BOMBERS. SINK GERMAN SHIPS. (Rec. 10.30). LONDON, July 24 The Moscow radio stated that Soviet bomber planes sank five German transports, also a large tanker in a convoy. \ SOVIET DEFENCES. A SIXTH COMMISSAR APPOINTED (Rec. 10.30). LONDON. July 24. M. Stalin has appointed a former Postmaster-General, M. Ivan Peresykin to take charge of the all-import-ant Defence branch of Soviet Communications. M. Peresypkin becomes the sixth Vice-Commissar for Defence.

Defence of Moscow RUSSIAN RESERVES. BEING THROWN IN. LONDON, July 23. The Soviet is hurling in its reserves 'in enormous numbers to protect Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev. The British United Press Berlin correspondent quotes official sources as saying ’that the terrific battles south-westwards of Ncvograd and around Smolensk have somewhat slowed down the German advance. The Russians have placed many obstacles, on the roads between Smolensk and Moscow. These obstacles are hampering the present Russian communications with the battlefront but can be regarded as one reason’ why the Germans are beginning to pealise that a frontal attack against Moscow is a hopeless task and why the Nazis are now trying to explain to the German people that the High Command’s immediate objective is "not Moscow, but the destruction of the Soviet Army. The Berlin correspondent of the Zurich “National Zeitung” says: The Russian High Command is throwing hi more reserves than the Germans expected. A Soviet report recorded stubborn Fighting in the Smolensk and Jilomir directions. In other sectors, nothing of importance occurred. The German radio has informed the people of Germany that their troops are now approaching the Dnieper river, but that it will be difficult to cross.

Other reports, originating at Berlin, harp on the claim that the Russians are being forced to use up more and more reserves, but even from the fronts northward of Leningrad. at present it appears that German progress is being over-estimat-ed. It is admitted that substantial Soviet forces were “left behind” in a large pocket in the Jitomir area. Other reports from Russia speak of the opening of a new triple offensive against Leningrad, Moscow, and Kiev RUSSIANS STILL HOLD SMOLENSK. LONDON, July 23. Reuter’s correspondent at Moscow in a special message on Wednesday night, said: It is true that German advanced units reached the outskirts of Smolensk, which is a key city, and is the focal point of probably the biggest and bloodiest battle ever waged by mechanised forces, but the defenders drove them off. Smolensk is and always has been in the hands of the Russians. The Soviet’s communiques rightly contim’- to speak of fighting in the direction of Smolensk. There is still no confirmation in London that Smolensk has fallen. GERMANS PASS SMOLENSK. LONDON, July 23The correspondent at Berlin of the British United Press says: After the German armoured cars passed beyond Smolensk, the existence of very large Soviet forces in the rear after the German armoured cars passed beyond Smolensk, forced the Ge/' mans widely to detour around the city in order to contact with the advanced cars.

Further Raid ON SOVIET CAPITAL. ON WEDNESDAY.

LONDON. July 23. Members of the British mission at Moscow are advising on fire-fighting and praise the conduct of the Russian firemen and members of the A.R.P. service during the raids on Moscow. They claimed they compared favourably with London’s. The British United Press 'correspondent says: A non-stop barrage kept the raiders in the second raid high. Tons of bombs were jettisoned on woods outside the capital. The Berlin radio declared that Moscow was a vast flaming sea after last night’s raid, and that the Kremlin was hit several times, as well as administrative buildings. The Russians also say that 87 German aeroplanes were destroyed on Monday for the loss of 14 of their own. The Soviet Air Force inflicted blows on motor mechanised units and enemy aerodromes. During Tuesday and Wednesday, 35 enemy planes ’were destroyed in aerial combat, and, during raids on enemy aerodromes, a quantity of planes, the number of which is being ascertained. was set on fire. The Russian loss was seventeen planes. (Rec. 1.10). MOSCOW, July 24. • German ’planes on Wednesday attempted to carry out a mass raid on Moscow. The ‘Russian anti-aircraft and night-fighter ’planes prevented the enemy from reaching the city. The fires caused were quickly extinguished. Some were killed and injured. GERMAN GENERAL STAFF. MOSCOW REPORT OF CHANGES. LONDON, July 24. The Moscow Radio broadcast a report that Field Marshal von Branchitsch has been removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief of the German Army. (Rec. 9.40). LONDON, July 24. According to the Moscow Radio, the German official News Agency issued a’ statement to the effect that Field Marshal Von Brauchitsch (German Commander-in-Chief), had taken a new position for the purpose of ensuring closer cp-operation between the German High Command and the Command of various units. The Moscow radio adds that military circles say Marshal Von Brauehitsch’s new post is connected with his estrangement from the general direction of operations, and that, apparently Marshal Brauchitsch and a number of other prominent Generals have mainly been responsible for a failure in the main strategic plan on the eastern front.

LONDON COMMENTS.

LONDON. July 23

With regard to the situation on the Russian front, it is felt in London. to-day, that generally there is a lull in activities. Authoritative quarters in London agree that the second German thrust on Leningrad, Moscow, and Kiev has spent itself, with the Russians maintaining their resistance on practically all fronts. Point, to this contention is given by the statement of the German High Command spokesman. “It is better now for us to stay put in Russia for the time being. We did not intend to cross natural obstacles such as rivers and marshes, but to take advantage of them to impede the retreat of the enemy.” Berlin officials have warned foreign correspondents not to expect sensational communiques in the next few days. NI.Z. AND SOVIET. WELLINGTON. July 24. When the House met at. 2.30 today. Mr H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson) on behalf of the Member for Napier, Mr W. Barnard, gave notice of a question to the Act'ng Prime Minister asking:—“Whether the Minister and his colleagues would consider the advisability of sending a message of goodwill and hearty, congratulations to our allies, the people of Russia, on the magnificent, promising fight they are mak'ng against the world menace of Nazism.”

New German Drive ? INTO MIDDLE EAST. LONDON SPECULATION. LONDON, July 23. A lull in the German drive in Russia is provoking speculation in London as to whether Germany may attack in the Middle East,, sending troops through Turkey—with or without permission—-in an attempt to seize the oilfields stretching from Baku to Iran. Military observers point out that the Russian campaign must have severely drained German fuel supplies, which have not been replaced. A drive east, in an attempt to seize the great oil basin from Baku to Iran, would therefore not be surprising. A “Daily Express” correspondent at Stockholm reports that British officers from Iraq and Teheran arrived recently at Kasnodar, to establish with the Russian authorities headquarters for the defence of the Baku oilfields. The “Daily Express” Stockholm correspondent, and the “Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent declare Germany is bringing strong pressure on Turkey to co-operate with the Axis, and thus provide- a passage for the German armies to the Middle East.

SOUTHERN FRONTS.

RUSSIANS WITHDRAWING.

LONDON, July 23. There is nothing to suggest that the Germans have captured Kiev. In the Bessarabian sector, it seems that the Russians are still withdrawing. In the Ukraine, the Russians admit that the fighting has moved from Novograd Volynsk to Zhitomir, 55 miles south-east of Novograd Volynsk and 85 miles west of Kiev. German accounts say that a more serious threat to Kiev is developing from the south.

A German communique states: German, Roumanian. Hungarian and Slovak troops in the Ukraine are pressing forward in ceaseless pursuit. Enemy attempts at counterattacks failed everywhere;, with extremely heavy losses. /■[ Russian withdrawal in the Ukraine is shown in the Russian communique issued at midnight last night. Berlin’s radio official commentator refers t 0 the continuous rains on the southern front which so thoroughly soaked the ground that the German advance is only makeable very slowly and with great difficulty. It is claimed that numerous Russian pockets on the central front are subjected to heavy pressure. The pockets, aided bv counter-attacks from outside, numerously attempted to break out and sometimes succeeded, but “soon were surrounded elsewhere.” He added that whereas French resistance collapsed because most commanders and every soldier' realised further resistance‘was hopeless, the Russians light on stolidly, ignoring the fact.

BRITISH AID TO RUSSIA.

LONDON, July 23.

Asked whether British air attacks ha'd succeeded in bringing relief to Russia, and whether there was any indication that the Luftwaffe was heading for the west, Sir Al Sin.* clair stated in Parliament: “I think that I had better not say what our information is about the movements of the Luftwaffe, but certainly the attacks both by day and night are bringing strong pressure to bear on the Germans, and we know they are having a considerable effect upon the morale of the German people.