LENINGRAD CUT OFF

Grey River Argus, 10 September 1941, Page 5

LENINGRAD CUT OFF

German Official Claim [Aus. & K.Z. Cable Assn J LONDON, Sept. 8. A German communique states: German mobile divisions have reached the River Neva, east oi Leningrad, on a bread front, and have taken Schlusselburg by storm. The German-Finnish ring around Leningrad has thus closed. Leningrad is cut off from all land communications. The Germans also claim that the German-Finnish forces reached SvirThe Russians, so far, are silent regarding the Germans' dramatic announcement of an advance to the Neva, and the encirclement of Leningiiad. A German spokesman revealed the German attitude when he said the fate of Leningrad was now sealed, “no matter how long the resistance lasts.” The Berlin radio broadcast a description of the action in which the Germans reached the Neva River. It said that the Russians across the Neva laid down such a fierce barrage, that the Austrians, who carried out the advance, could only move by crawling on their bellies. There is a fair body of evidence to suggest that the main German drive from the west and south-west against Leningrad has not materially progressed. A German correspondent says that the battle in this sector is a struggle for every inch of ground. “New Russian divisions are perpetually thrust against the German lines. Special labour squads are erecting new powerful fortifications behind the Russian lines, unceasing raids adding to our difficulties.” Finnish reports indicate that the Finns are far from in full control ot territory through which they claimed they have advanced to the Svir. They face constant ambushes by Russian ( forces behind their front lines. Fighting is going on most fiercely around Leningrad. The Russians are counter-attacking ceaselessly, and with the immense forces concentrated at Leningrad, there seems no reason why the encirclement, if achieved by the Germans, should be more than temporary. The morale of the people of Leningrad remains high. “Never will Hitler's robbers and murderers enter the city,” was the comment of a speaker at a mass meeting of citizens. He said that in addition to the destruction of hundreds of tanks and aeroplanes, hundreds of thousand of Nazis had met their death on the outer approaches of the city. The Russians’ sense of the dramatic was strikingly illustrated today, when, the Leningrad radio broadcast to the people of Russia, after which the Moscow radio replied. “Listen, Moscow, listen Moscow, listen Soviet Union,” began the, Leningrad radio. “Already for many days, fighting has been going on at the approaches to our city. We remember that the people of Soviet Russia have already declared—“ Fascist hordes will never see Leningrad.” The enemy is throwing in new fresh divisions, but the people of Leningrad are indomitable. Hundreds of. trains since 5 a.m. have brought tens of thousands of workers to the factories,* whose omy, thought is to produce more arms. Yesterday (Sunday) we did not take the day off. Half a millidn people went on working. Lorries laden with arms rushed tc the front. Many carried also delegations with, messages of cheer. Thousands of socalled / ryans have already paid with their stinking blood. We shall be victorious.” Speeches by soldiers and commanders of the Home Guard followed. The Moscow radio answered: “Heroic Leningrad, we heard you speak. Millions of Soviet people listened to your voices. We are convinced of your ultimate victory over the attackers.” The threat to Leningrad from the north is said by the Finns to have been intensified. They say they have advanced swiftly east of Lake Ladoga to the Svir river and cut the Stalin canal and the Murmansk-Lenin-grad railway. The Russians or neutral sources do not confirm this claim. An American broadcaster was told in Berlin last night that the Russian resistance is “extremely tough." However, said this broadcaster's informant, the Germans expect Leningrad to fall soon.

ENCIRCLEMENT DENIED. GERMANS NOT CLOSE EXCEPT IN SOUTH-WEST (Rec. 8.30). LONDON, September 9. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: “The Germans certainly have not anvwhqre like encircled Leningrad The Germans have approached fairly close to Leningrad onlv from the south-west, but they are not yet close enough for practical large-scale shelling.” CENTRE AND SOUTH. RUSSIAN~RESISTANCE. LONDON, September 8. Russian reports suggest Marshal Timoshenko is following up his recent counter-attacks, and the Germans here are definitely checked. Kiev remains 7. formidable fortrpcc with hundreds of surrounding forts, and here as at Leningrad ano. Odessa, the whole population is fervently working for the defence of the city Little change can be reported m the Kiev bulee or the Dmeperfronts. The Russians at Odessa are constantly sallying out in devastating counter-attacks. Reports from Moscow speak of successful local operations bv the on the central front. These have achieved the recapture of several large villages in the direction of Gomel. GERMANS PAST GOMEL. LONDON, September 8. front lines. Russians Capture Town ENEMY DIVISIONS DESTROYED. OFFICIAL REPORT. „ a s > RUGBY, Sent. 8. R A C Rnssian communique on Monday A Russian troops on Monday mght stated. fightine the enemy Austrian Division, and German 178th. Wth "nd 2£Sth. - Infantry Divisions and with the capture of the town ot NMnia The remaining enemy retfeaTed in a westerly direction “Our air force has continued to attack enemv troops and ’pjanes. on enemy aerodromes. On Sunday night attacked Bucharest. DurSaturday sixtv-two ’planes were destroyedin aerial combats, and on

aerodromes, while our losses amounted to 33 'planes.