HITTING BACK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 192, 16 July 1941, Page 7

HITTING BACK

VIGOROUS THRUST. RUSSIANS PRESSING ON. (United Press Association—Copvright.) (Rec. 12 noon) LONDON, July 15 A vigorous and apparently large-scale Russian counterthrust towards Eobruisk and German News Agency claims, without detail, of continuing advances towards Leningrad ami Smolensk are the features of to-day's news.

The British United Press says it is unofficially claimed that the Germans have reached Kiev, but have not yet captured the whole of the city. However, neither the Russian nor official German sources confirm this report.

Military commentators in London say it is possible that German armoured formations have penetrated fairly deeply into the Russian front at some points without the support of the main atta-cking forces. 'Phis is admitted by the Berlin radio, which mentions the difficulties for the German troops caused by the Soviet method of defence in depth.

The laveetia says the Russian counter-offensive between Rogachcv and JJobin (in the centre) is pressing on, and the front is now 20

miles west of Rogachov

The Russians also crossed the Dnieper at several points north of Rogachcv after the artillery had silenced the German guns ajid routed enemy tanks. The inhabitants are returning to Itogachev and the roads are choked with captured German tanks.

IDENTICAL AIM.

I ANGLO-SOVIET CO-OPERATION. RUGBY, July 14. ! The Anglo-Soviet joint declaration iof lull and loyal co-operation in the present war against Hitlerite Germany : receives a universal welcome in tho j British Press. The Daily Mail, remarking that the agreement is a "logical outcome of the policy deI dared hy Mr Churchill three weeks i a aO,'' states that it is a recognition of tile common purpose to exterminate Nazism "and should i>rove a powerful instrument for hastening its accomplishment." Discussing the implication of the declaration, the Times says: "By proj viding that neither party shall lay down his arms wthout the other, it implies the necessity of an agreement on the terms on which arms shall he laid down and, therefore, of a common elaboration of the peace aims. Since the experience of the past 20 yeans has made it amply clear that a stable settlement of the affairs of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe cannot be achieved without Russian participation, this conclusion will lie rightly and unanimously welcomed by responsible opinion in this country." On a similar theme the Manchester Guardian, after consideration of the exact position of the Soviet vis-a-vis Britain, says : "Whatever is the formal status between Britain and Russia now, we may trust that the practical effect will be that of a full and binding alliance in war and in peace." Newspapers express hope that one of the effects of the declaration may be a settlement of the differences outstanding between Poland and Russia, and the Times sees in it a bridge which might be used to bring this about. '"Unless Poland," it states, "were content to become a. dependent of Germany—an unthinkable hypothesis, whose implications now have been, demonstrated beyond the possibility of a misunderstanding—close co-operation and association with Russia "is cssen-j tial, and this is a matter of far more j vital importance to her than any issue of disputed territorial claims. "Russia, on her side, can afford to be generous if the needs of her security are fully mot, and these needs can be met most effectively by a wholehearted hastening of Polish cooperation in the field of strategy and international relations. On this basis an agreement should no longer be delayed."—Official AVireless