NAZI ADMISSION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 July 1941, Page 7

NAZI ADMISSION

STRONG SOVIET DRIVE. AERIAL ENCOUNTERS. (United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 18. A Moscow communique states: “Fighting continued yesterday in the Pskov, Porkhov, Polotsk, Smolensk and Novograd-Volynsk sectors and also on the Bessarabian front, with no important change in the disposition of our troops. Our air force operated against enemy motorised and mechanised troops and also destroyed enemy planes on aerodromes. A German suitmarine was sunk by a mine in Varanger Fiord, northern Norway.” The German News Agency admits that the Soviet launched strong conn- ] ter-attacks against German infantry ! which were trying to link up with the’ advanced motorised columns in the' Kiev area. It is claimed that German ] artillery have broken up the counter- ; attacks.

It states that the Germans have also advanced toward Orsha, CO miles west of Smolensk. Yesterday the agency claimed the fall of Polotsk, which is 140 miles west-north-west of Smolensk. To-day it modifies the previous statements, denied by Moscow, that Smolensk itself was captured and now says there is lighting in the town. In this morning’s Moscow communi-j quo it is stated: “In order to raise j the low morale of the German soldiers, j German officers authorised the pillag-j ing of the Latvian town of Varakli-] ani for three days. At the end of the ! third day, when nothing was left to j pillage, new enemy hordes appeared, ! resulting in clashes between the two i lots about the sharing out of the] plunder.” The communique adds: “Rumanian and German troops in the region of ! Rlocsti are carrying out wholesale arrests of workers and their families lor their refusal to put out fires caused [ by tho iSoviet bombing of the oil i wells.”

The German News Agency says that 16 well-known Communists and Jews wore shot in Belgrade lor attempted sabotage.

It was announced in Moscow that political commissars are being reintroduced in the Red Army. A decree states: “The war has radically changed the conditions of political work in the Red Army and it has made the duties of the regimental divisional commanders more complex, demanding the full assistance of the political workers. “Next to the commanding officers they will be responsible for the conduct of military operations and for the behaviour of the troops. They must give full assistance to the commanding officers. The political workers must set a personal example, inspire the units in tho light, carry on a ruthless struggle against cowards and panic-mong-ers, and cut all treason at the very roots. The commanding officer is the head of the regiment. The commissar is its father and soul.” The first British-Russian exchange of war materials has occurred by aeroplane. Britain sent diamonds lor use in Russian war factories," and Russia sent platinum for use in the manufacture of British bombs and shells.

Only two aeroplanes were required to carry the consignments, but their valuo reached a fantastic sum, says the Daily Telegraph. The flights of the aeroplanes were planned in the deepest secrecy, and !>oth reached their destinations on scheduled lime. The Soviet Embassy announces that an agreement has been reached between the Soviet and Czechoslovakia for tho exchange of diplomatic representatives and on the common struggle against Hitlerite Germany. A Moscow message says M. Lozovsky denied as “mischievous” reports that the Soviet was discussing the cession of bases to America. “There were no such talks and there cannot be,” lie said.