TEST FOR RUSSIANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 191, 15 July 1941, Page 6

TEST FOR RUSSIANS

HEAVY NAZI THRUST

AMBITIOUS CLAIMS. (United Press Associstion—Copyright.) (Rec. 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. The most vigorous, and probably the most dangerous, German thrust to-day seems to be east of Lake Peipus, toward Leningrad, which the Finns claim t- be supporting by a successful push from the north-west. The German News Agency claims that Panzer divisions east of Lake Peipus, after battering down the Russian resistance, are advancing towards Leningrad. The agency also claims that the advance continues irresistibly, toward (Smolensk across the Uvina and Dnieper Eivers, with heavy Russian losses. The Stalin Line, it says, has been breached in four places. —Firstly at Lake Peipus, secondly near Vitebsk, thirdly west of Kiev, and fourthly at a. bend in the centre of the Dniester. Further penetration has occurred at Opochka. where German shock troops captured' two .Russian forts and destroyed one by a mine, making a 500yard breach which reinforcements widened while the shock' troops poured on.

It is emphasised in London that the immediate results of these renewed thrusts will largely depend on the Russians' ability to maintain their organisation and transport tor bwinging in leserves wherever they are most needed. Mobility is nilimportant.

The Germans' claim that the infantry marches 18 miles a day is not unusual, and the Luftwaffe is apparently doing its utmost to hinder the Russian movement, both in the front and behind the battle lines- The cutting of the Leningrad-Smolensk railway at several places is claimed. GREAT AIR FORCES.

The Germans use swarms of fighters to protect the Panzer columns and also call up bombers when they encounter strong artillery positions, lhc Russians are similarly employing large air formations, bombing and ma-chine-gunning the German troops as they struggle on through the "scorched earth," where any moment may bring death from a guerrilla's bullet or a lightning Russian counter-thrust. The Russian air sweeps have penetrated far behind the invaders' lines from Finland to the Black Sea. A Finnish High Command communique says: "Our troops attacked strongly fortified Russian positions at Lake Ladoga and in Karelia and broke through at several points despite stubborn resistance. A penetration in some, places of 50 miles has been made and the advance continues. The Berlin radio claims that German destroyers sank several Russian merchantmen in the Baltic, while the Russians report the destruction of two U-boats lyin'sj in wait for warships and convovs. In Saigon it is officially announced that, following the severance of diplomatic relations between France and the Soviet, all Russians in IndoChina have been arrested. Six hundred French and native Communists have also l>een arrested and sent to concentration camps.

TURKEY WARNED. | (Rec. 2.15 p.m.) ANKARA, July 14. After an outburst in' the Turkish Press against a speech by.' M. Litvinov, in which he referred to the .lute planned by Hitler for those still deluded by pacts of non-aggression, all the Istanbul newspapers have been suspended for three days, ostensibly tor some other minor reason. ■ A Moscow communique claims success in the western sector's, where 100 tanks have been destroyed, also in tilt: south-western sector, where a great number of guns and ammunition have been captured.