NO IMPORTANT CHANGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 191, 15 July 1941, Page 5

NO IMPORTANT CHANGE

SITUATION IN THE EAST BRITISH PACT WELCOMED LONDON, July 14. There is nothing in the latest news from the Eastern Front to justify the pretentious claims by the Germans last' Saturday, and repeated since. The Russian communique says no important change has taken place, and the German communique merely announces that operations arc proceeding according to plan. The Germans claim that the drive to Leningrad is continuing', but the Russians speak of a counter-attack having been hmnchcd. Further advances in the upper reaches of the Rivers Dnieper and Dvina are claimed by the Germans in the direction of Smolensk, and they also report heavy air raids in the Ukraine, 80 miles west of Kiev, the capital of that area.

The German communiques are still bringing down a large number of Russian planes which they crippled a fortnight ago.

The Russians announce that 06 German machines were destroyed yesterday for the loss of 12 planes ot tlic lied air force.

The Germans say they have lately sunk two Russian submarines, and the Russians say they have sunk two German submarines. The Anglo-Russian agreement has been warmly welcomed in the. British Dominions and has attracted attention in Japan, where there is rather less enthusiasm lor it. The Sydney Sun says the pact has come two years too late to save Europe but it is 'better late than never. The Montreal Gazette declares that the peoples of the Empire are solidly behind the agreement. The trend of Tokio Press opinion is that -B tfiain and Russia are not in a position to help each other materially. hi the latest Gallup poll of United States public opinion on the RussoGerma.ii war, to the question: Which side would you like to win? the declarations were: For Germany, 4 per cent. For Russia, 72 per cent. It makes no difference, 17 per cent. Undecided, 7 per cent. The percentage is the same ior all income groups. Later. To-night's Russian communique reports that the fighting continues on all three sections of the front. In the Leningrad area the Russians launched a counter-attack with heavy losses on the enemy. In'the western sector the Russians claim to have destroyed 100 enemy tanks in a large-scale action, while in the south-west three thousand Germans are reported to have been put out of action.

A remarkable sea battle is reported from the Baltic. The Russians say that in an attack on - a German convoy they sank two dedestro.yers and 13 transports as well as a barge laden with tanks, and damaged one destroyer and 13 transports. They sustained no loss themselves.

GERMANS MAULED.

GAINS NOT SUBSTANTIAL.

(Rec. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. July 14. Russian military spokesmen say that, although there has jiot yet been any deep penetration, of the Stalin Line, the Red Array's mobile defence policy will probably allow a deep penetratiou at selected points. These will allow the defenders to deal more effectively with individual Panzer thrusts, as was done in the early days of the war.

Authoritative observers in London are still cautious in assessing the situation, but the general view is that after three weeks Germany has taken a severe mauling for unsubstantial gains.

To-dav's Russian communique states that no large-scale fighting ocenrred] during the night. The position of the Russian troops has not substantially altered. The air force throughout thei night bombed airfields and mechanised! units. Attacks were also made on Jassy and Ploesti. A brief Germa.n .communique claims that the breakijig-through operations on the Eastern Front continue according to plan. Finnish forces under FieldMarshal Mannerhoim attacked on both sides of Lake Ladoga. The Luftwa.ffe bombed railways in the neighbourhood of Leningrad and Smolensk, also mill-: tarv objectives at Kiev. V message from Shanghai says the port of Kobe (Japan) will be closed to foreigners for ten days from tomorrow. , . The Associated Press correspondent states that it is believed the Japanese; are deliberately giving the impression, of a move against Russia to cloak their real move against Indo-Ghrna. Extreme tension is apparent at foaigon. ______ LONDON DISCUSSIONS. (Rec. 12.50 p.m.) RUGBY. July 11. The Soviet Military Mission headed by General Golikov has, since its arrival in London, made close contacts with the British Chiefs of Staffs and the Defence Ministry. General Golikov and Colonel Draguu have now returned to Russia to report, ihey will then return to Britain. Meanwhile the work of the Soviet Mission is proceeding uninterruptedly "under Admiral KharJamov.—Omciai Wireless. .