RUSSIAN FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN FRONTS

Still no Change

GERMANS CLAIM REPULSE OF ATTACKS.

LONDON, May 21

The German News Agency’s commentator von Hammer, states: Hundreds of Luftwaffe planes were thrown in to check a Russian onslaught against the German bridgehead above Grigtriopol. Our positions stretched like a bowstring in front of the Dniester Bend. German Grenadiers met the Russian attack. The Russians at first penetrated our lines .and on the third day of the attack threatened to engulf the whole positions, but finally were repulsed. Berlin radio stated that the Russians are repeatedly attempting ■to cut the Jassy-Kishinev railway line. Sunday night’s Soviet communique stated there had been no material changes along the front. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated: The Red Army scout units, thrusting sharply at widely separated points on the Eastern Front, are tying up considerable forces and causing the enemy nervously to describe every minor attack as an attempted break-through, whereas the spring lull actually continues. A Moscow message says that Professor Lange, formerly of the University of Cracow, who came to America to visit the Polish Army, was received by M. Stalin. He said: M. Stalin told me Poland is going to play a very important part m Europe. He declared it was going to be in the Soviet Union’s interest that Poland should be strong. Major General Feodorov, chairman of the Third Soviet Anti-Fascist Youth Meeting, which opened in Moscow on Sunday, said: “The United Nations are on the edge of the ! war’s decisive phase and we shall solve the problem of finishing off the German beast in its own country with our Allies. Oui’ young people and our army swear to fight the enemy to the last German who refuses to lay down arms. We are proud to say that Russian youth is putting all its strength and skill into the historic struggle against the Fascist invaders. The youth of Britain and the United States has shown gallantry and valiance in stubborn fighting by land, sea and air and in the stiff battles in Africa and Italy. . A Moscow message stated: The Holy Synod of the Russian Greek Orthodox Church elected Alexei, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, as incumbent Patriarch, on May 15, thereby conforming with the testament of the late Patriarcfi. Loyalty to the Russian Orthodox Church and the Soviet ’ Government was declared by the incumbent Pat; riarch in a letter to M. Stalin. Alexei undertook to work in complete unity with the Church Council and the Holy Synod as a guarantee against mistakes and false steps. The incumbent Patriarch, who was born in 1877, was in Leningrad throughout the entire blockade and was awarded the Government Medal for the defence of Leningrad.