CRITICAL FOR. RUSSIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 193, 17 July 1941, Page 7

CRITICAL FOR. RUSSIA

ENSUING DAYS’ FIGHTING

NAZI DRIVE TO LENINGRAD

LONDON, July 16. Military observers in London believe that the next few days will be critical for Russian strategy. They suggest that importance is not so much to be attached to territorial gains as casualties, wear and tear, and Russia’s ability to call on reserves. To-day’s German communique from tlie Eastern Front says only that operations are continuing 1 despite Russian counterattacks in which bloody losses have been inflicted. The German communique makes it plain that either the claims advanced on Saturday night were premature or fierce fighting is taking place behind their advanced lines.

Leningrad is in danger of being pinched between advances from Finland and Esthonia. The Germans themselves make no claim to be less than 130 miles from Leningrad in the advance from Lake Peipus, but they do claim to be advancing along the Esthonian coast.

Both the Germans and the Russians report violent lighting at Vitebsk, on the . south-west front, in the course oi the German drive to Moscow.

Further south the Russians claiim to be still driving the Germans up the bank of the River Dnieper. The Russian communique says nothing about the Ukraine. On Saturday night the Germans claimed to be close to Kiev and that its fall was imminent; that may be possible, but the German reports to-night speak ot stiff Russian resistance at two points and of a strong counter-attack southwest of Kiev.

The Russians again report heavy air raids on the Rumanian oil fields af. Dloesti.

The Germans claim to be 130 miles south of Leningrad, and an unconfirmed report from Finland says they have taken Novgorod, 120 miles from the city. The Russians claim to have forced the Germans to retreat when they attempted to cross a river 75 miles from Leningrad. A Vichy spokesman says the German advance has been virtually halted, that they have suffered heavy losses, and that the Stalin Line is not broken. Berlin, on the other hand, declares that after piercing the Stalin Line, the Germans arc occupying the hinterland, desperate Russian attempts to stem the invasion having failed. Romo makes even greater claims than the Germans themselves, though an Italian General says it will be a iong war, giving'the Italians time to cover themselves with laurels. INCESSANT STRIFE. GREAT FORCES INVOLVED. ‘ LONDON, July 16. The latest Moscow announcements havo reported incessant fierce lighting on the Eastern Front. Yesterday afternoon’s communique stated that no substantial change occurred during the night of July 14, when there was stubborn fighting in the north-western and western sectors of the front.

A communique issued early this morning states: “In the sector of Pskov and Porkhov (45 miles cast of Pskov) our troops yesterday surrounded enemy motorised and mechanised units and destroyed them section by section, capturing a large number of tanks, lorries, and all kinds of arms. The remainder of the enemy were hurled back westward. There was fierce fighting in the Vitebsk sector against motorised and mechanised enemy units which were'vainly endeavouring to penetrate eastward. The lighting continues with heavy losses on both sides. In the Novograd-Volynsk sector our troops, fighting stubbornly, are counteracting enemy attempts to penetrate eastward to join his tanks, wiiich are in a difficult position.” Unofficial enemy sources claim great German progress, including a deep advance toward Leningrad from the south-west and complete breaching of the Stalin defences in the Vitebsk area. The Berlin radio to-day says that a section of Russion troops has been surrounded at Jitomir. It describes as premature an earlier claim that the Germans have entered Kiev.

This morning’s Soviet communique also states: “The air force yesterday operated against enemy motorised and mechanised units, destroyed grounded enemy aircraft, and bombed the Ploesti oilfields and also warehouses in Sulina and transports in the Tulcca district. In an aerial battle over one of our aerodromes seven enemy bombers and 10 lighters were destroyed by our lighters and anti-aircraft guns, and we lost two fighters. A U-boat was destroyed while crossing a minefield in the Gulf of Finland.” The communique alleges that knapsacks of captured Germans were filled with stolen gold and silver objects. One possessed eight gold watches, 12 wedding rings and other valuables which had been stolen from churches. The Russian crops are expected to be the richest in the Soviet’s history. The harvesting is going on at full speed throughout Russia, and every precaution is taken to destroy every sheaf in occupied territories. V Bulgarian military tribunal sentenced to death four former, Russian officers, who were accused of spying for Britain. A fifth committed suicide while awaiting trial. • , It is reported from Rome that Hyler and Mussolini 1 are to meet shortly to discuss the Russian situation.