HEAVY DEFEAT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 177, 28 June 1941, Page 7

HEAVY DEFEAT

FOR NAZI DRIVE. THE LATEST NEWS. (United .Press Association —Copyright.) (Ree. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 27. The big German tank thrust in the central sector, where the German armies appear to have struck deepest into Russian territory, lias been heavily defeated, according to a Russian communique. The Moscow radio says it is officially announced that a heavy defeat was inflicted on the Germans last night in the Siauliui-V ihio-Baranowice area. “Our troops then withdrew to new positions where they are regrouping tor a new battle.” A Soviet Information Bureau communique states that the battle continued last night in the direction of Rawaruska, also in the region of Suleni, on the east bank of the Pruth River, 12 miles northward of Jassy. Enemy planes repeatedly bombed Bori- 1 sov, Bobruisk, and Mogilov on Thursday night. The Russian air force carried out; innumerable attacks on enemy tanki columns in the direction of Vilno, : Brody and Baranowice. The bombing 1 of military objectives in Rumania | caused great damage. i A German communique states that tho first five days’ operations proved the Soviet army had prepared ail at- j tack on Central Europe. “Our units found a concentration of Russian olfensive troops on the frontier line; westwards of Lwow and Bialvstok. These troops were exposed to encircle- 1 meat and, therefore, were incapable of i purely defensive operations. “Our troops have been victorious on all fronts and have achieved great de-; cis ions, details of which arc being an-; nounced soon.”

A Berlin spokesman claimed the Luftwaffe had gained aerial supremacy over the entire eastern front. A Russian communique reports that patrols crossed the River Pruth into Rumania, bringing back prisoners. The communique adds that at various points the enemy landed small parachute groups of four to six men for reconnaissance purposes. Tliev were captured and handed over to the military authorities. Every enemy attempt to land parachute troops is meeting with determined resistance. Thus whole groups of parachutists have been attacked and annihilated by Russian troops in the Ukraine immediatelv after landing. An official communique issued in Budapest states that owing to yesterday’s wanton Russian air attacks against open Hungarian towns Hungary considers herself in a state of war with the Soviet Union. The Moscow radio reports that some captured German parachutists were equipped with typewriters and blanktrade union forms. Recruiting offices are being openod throughout Spain for the enlistment of volunteers to fight against Russia, j CHANGED POLICY.

Mr Harry Pollitt, secretary of the Communist Party ot Great Britain from 1929 to 1939, addressing a demonstration, said: “The Communist Party welcomes Britain’s changed policy toward tlie Soviet Union. We know for a certainty that both Britain and the Soviet now face a position of unparalleled common danger which is going to demand from all of us the greatest efforts that have yet boon made in developing resources of leadership and strategy and a common purpose that the peoples of Britain and tho Soviet Union can make so that the menace of Fascism can he removed once and for all from the face of the earth.”