LENINGRAD’S DEFENCE

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1941, Page 5

LENINGRAD’S DEFENCE

STILL STUBBORN Not Yet Cut Off [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, September 15. Fierce battles are raging on the approaches to Leningrad. The Moscow paper, “Izvestia,' states new, gallant, and skihul lighters are being thrown into the battle, and workers of Leningrad are forging formidable weapons by day and by night. “The way of tne Nazi bandits is barred. Leningrad will be the obstacle on which the enemy sword is shattered,’’ the paper declares. The Russians state Britain will be glad to learn that large numbers ot Messerschmitt Ill’s, which droppea bombs on Coventry and London last year, are being shot down. The Germans are using the Messerschmitt 115, their latest fighter, in the air battles over Leningrad. The Germans are not only using the Messerschmitt 115, their latest type, but are bringing up obsolete types to fill gaps in their squadrons. Bitter resistance which the German communique says is being encountered in the Leningrad sector, is considered here to indicate that the Nazi losses in their attempts to capture the city have been particularly heavy. . It is now a week since the German High Command claimed to have reached the Neva on a broad front, and captured Shlusselburg, but the claim seems at least premature. The railway connection between Leningrad and Moscow is apparently still intact, via Volmegda, and Russian reinforcements reached the garrison, after the Germans announced it was completely isolated. A German communique emphasised that Russian defenders were clinging with extraordinary stubbornness to a ring of the most modern “bunkers.” A Critical Position ENCIRCLING ACTION. CONTINUED BY GERMANS. LONDON. September 15. The Germans continue to report slew but sure progress in the Leningrad sector, but these are not confirmable, and lierce resistance of Leningrad's defenders, both military and civil, is still undiminished, but it is now clear that the great city is in a critical position General von Leeb is maintaining gigantic pressure against Leningrad, and German dispatches to-day referred to “large penetration” of the outer defences. After strong German forces had broken into the fortified front of Leningrad, claims a communique, the close encirclement of the city is being irresistibly continued in spite of bitter resistance. Officials in Berlin stated that General von Leeb’s armies are now attacking Leningrad's inner defence ring of suburbs, but bad weather is hampering operations. The German News Agency announced that German tanks penetrated the modern fortifications before Leningrad, inflicting heavy casualties. / German communique says: The encirclement of Leningrad is further closing in. Repeated counter-attacks by the enemy, supported by heavy tanks, are being broken. Leningrad Suburbs NOW SCENE OF BATTLE A DESPERATE DEFENCE. (Rec. 9.30) LONDON, Sent. 16. Officials in Berlin have claimed that the battle for Leningrad is now raging in the suburbs. These are about 15 miles from the centre of the city. , . i The Russians are desperately contesting every inch of ground. There is continuous heavy rain. This is making it difficult for the Germans to brino- up heavy equipment. The Germans declared that Leningrad is defended by lines of powerful concrete oillboxes, some of which are several storeys deep. These lines are strengthened by tank-traos. There also are huge minefields, dense wire entanglements and rows of treetrunks deeply embedded in the roads. The German officials added that the Russians had entrenched themselves in a 75-mile defence zone between Leningrad and the Luga River, but the Germans broke through these trenches. German Losses IN MEN AND PLANES. (Rec. 10.40). LONDON. Sept. 15. The Moscow newspaper, “Pravda," says: The Germans in three days' fighting lost four thousand Killed and fifteen thousand wounded. Soviet artillery annihilated a German motorised battalion at point blankrange. _ , , The Moscow “Red Star/’ says: Gaps which have been made in the Luftwaffe are so important that greater activity on one front coincides with a lull on another LENINGRAD AFLAME. FINNISH REPORT. (Rec 10.50). HELSINKI, Sept. 16. Finnish correspondents report that the city of Leningrad is aflame after G It^ffils^haf 1 (ferman bombers have also attacked the Soviet naval station at Krondstadt, which Finms.i artillery is also shelling from the Karelian Leningrad Stands Firm LATEST INDICATIONS man 12 30) LONDON, Sept. 16. A Russian communique on Monday night was slightlv more informative ninn usual It threw a gleam of Iffiht on the stern defence of Odessa. It is dear that both Odessa and Lenin Germans*^ according to their - A C< Nazi official at /Berlin has claim/X German advance units, in sfehT « S?y a >° s kTfires asThe Jesuit of bombs, but th ßerlin’s S higffiy-coloured descrip°/esistatocer^ S thefl?uslslansdca O n Hotntcroreted as indicating that the Nazis are suffering heavy losses. german vessels sunk OFF PETSAMO , Rpc 1210) _ LONDON, Sept. 16. A supplementary communique issued at Moscow stated: Russian motor torpedo-boats torpedoed and sank an SOOO-ton German transport, also a patrol vessel near Petsamo.