STALIN AT HEAD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 196, 21 July 1941, Page 5

STALIN AT HEAD

SOVIET ARMY MIGHT. NA VA L SUCCESSES. (United Press Association Copvrig’nt) LONDON, July J 9. While the German High Command claimed to-day that Smolensk was captured on July 1(5, the latest Russian communique does not admit the fall of the city though it reports heavy lighting in the Smolensk sector. The Red Army newspaper Red Star claims that guerrillas operating in the German rear have captured two neighbouring towns, and strong partisan bands helped to surround .and wipo out the German

garrisons. The Moscow radio stated that M. Stalin lias been appointed People’s Commissar for Defence in addition to Prime Minister. Marshal Timoshenko, whom he replaces, becomes the ViceCommissar.

The Soviet communique also states: “Our reconnaissances discovered a largo and strongly-escorted convoy of enemy transports in the Baltic. Our planes, motor torpedo-boats, and destroyers sank 11 transports and an oil tanker. Our losses were one plane and a motor torpedo-boat.” The Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that more detailed information of the Russian attack on a German convoy in the Baltic Sea on July 12 reveals that four German destroyers and at least 13 armed transports were sunk. The convoy consisted of 50 vessels, and it is Ain likely that many succeeded in reaching their own shores. The communique further states: “Russian guerrilla parties are being organised in Norway, where fires destroyed a German army garage and depots for grain, fuel and ammunition. Serious disturbances are reported to have broken out in Slovakia, where dozens of Germans were manhandled and seriously injured.” Jt is officially stated in Moscow that a largo crowd of peasants in Rumania surrounded a convoy of supply waggons for the German army, shouting, “We will not give tho Germans Rumanian bread.” Eight German and 25 Rumanian soldiers guarded the convoy. Tho peasants stoned tho Germans, and then Rumanian soldiers disarmed the Germans and tho peasants seized the j supplies. Stockholm reports that a goods train laden with explosives blew up in Central Sweden, destroying another train j and damaging a third and seriously damaging a railway station and houses. ! The Vichy News Agency mentions an | unconfirmed report that the Germans! have taken prisoner M. Stalin’s son by | tho former marriage, who is an infantry lieutenant.

OILFIELDS WRECKED,

It is reported from Ankara that the Russian bombings have so severely damaged the Ploesti oil fields that the Rumanian authorities have notified the Turkish imoprters that deliveries must be drastically cut in the near future. Rumania’s oil-refining capacity has been reduced by millions of tons yearly. The Unirca refinery has been destroyed, together with a subsidiary plant. One plant burnt for 18 hours. Two hundred thousand tons of petroleum products, 18 tanks, and other equipment were set on fire. The Red Air Force reports the destruction of two transports and five oil barges on the Danube. “Our air force during July 18 and the night of July 18-19 destroyed mechanised units of the enemy and acted against the enemy air force on his aerodromes,” says a Moscow communique. “In addition to the figures previously stated, during July IG-17 our j air force destroyed 39 enemy planes (making a total of 61 destroyed m the; air and on the ground) ; out losses in ; the same period were 16. During July 18 our air force destroyed 33 enemy j planes.” To-day’s German communique states that the Finnish army broke stiff enemy resistance and pressed forward on the northern shores of Lake Ladoga. It| was reported from Helsinki yesterday! that the Finns captured Vartsila, 33 i miles north of Sortavala, and I omul the: factories and houses wrecked and in flames. The town of Enso was • also j stated to be in ruins. These towns, with the whole area north of Lake: Ladoga, were ceded by Finland last year.