NAZIS CONFOUNDED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 197, 22 July 1941, Page 6

NAZIS CONFOUNDED

SHREWD SOVIET TACTICS

UNORTHODOX WARFARE. (United Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 21. The -current Russian successes may be ascribed, according a 'limes correspondent on tne German frontier, to the Russians’ unorthodox methods of offering the most stubborn resistance long after, under all the recognised standards, they should have accepted defeat. This makes the Germans uncertain when they can safely proceed. A favourite trick is to let the Panders through, after which the Russian armoured units emerge from concealment. The Germans are thus taken unawares and enter two murderous fires at point-blank range. Chaos follows, but the Russians recover more quickly because they arc not surprised. The Germans admit the Russians show an uncanny faculty lor adapting themselves to any change of German tactics. They attack the German infantry, who have been led to believe the way is clear. Russian tanks and motorised forces frequently join up with the Germans at dusk, following on until the procisc moment for firing on them from the rear —usually just as the Germans advance into ambush. The Independent French Agency says the Germans require more troops to hold down the invaded territory so they have asked Italy to send an expeditionary corps of at least ten divisions and have asked the Rumanians to mobil.se more men and materials.

The Russians in Bessarabia have apparently completed tneir withdrawal on a substantial part of the Dniester front, but there is no evidence to support the German claims that the Axis forces are pursuing the defeated Russians. On the contrary, it appears that the Russians, where they have withdrawn on this front, have done so under sufficient rearguard actions. ADVANCE STEMMED.,

For six days the Russians have field the Germans virtually stationary. To-day’s advices from. Moscow say that even Smolensk is in Russian hands.

At. Lozovsky (Vice-Foreign Commissar) declared to-night that the Germans are holding only certain front lines: hundreds of cities and villages in the rear are still Russian-controlled and thousands oi guerrilla bands are harassing the German rear, wrecking communications and ambushing troops. “The idea of the Germans carrying out a blitzkrieg against Russia is ridiculous. We have evidence ot the order of General Nehriug (Commander of the German 18th Tank Corps): ‘The less of munitions, arms, ana machines is very substantial, and despite our successful advance considerably exceeds our booty.’ ” Al. Lozovsky added that such a situation, if prolonged, would be in to lei - able to the Germans; it proves they lace their inevitable doom. The Germans now suggest that an immediate drive against Moscow is not contemplated, and the Aluscovites remain calm, and are making no preparations for evacuation of the Government or Diplomatic Corps. Whoever holds Smolensk, the Germans are eertaiiilv not complete niusfers thereabouts, and this—like other wide sections of the front is taking on the characteristics of trench vvarlare. . . . ~ While the Russians are seizing the opportunity to ‘ throw up new field fortifications between Smolensk and Moscow, Al. Lozovsky declared that Moscow is so well defended that mass air raids are impossible. He added that the Germans are bombing communications, hut the railways are functioning regularly. POSITION IN NORTH.

The German News Agency claims that, Finnish and German troops broke . through the Russian iortilied positional near Salla. . , The progress towards Leningrad, scorns to have been halted; there is no] indication of how much of Esthoma] the Germans have occupied, and pro-! sumably more desperate efforts against Leningrad await the consolidation ol their position in Estbonia. The German radio has announced that Major-General Lancella, a Storm Troop leader, was killed in action w?Ale commanding a division on the Eastern Front. The Moscow radio states that a Bulgarian destroyer collided with a German submarine near Varna (on the Black Sea) and sank, the crew being drowned. The Russian Cabinet lias appointed four more Vice-Commissars of Defence to assist M. Stalin, namely, M. Sliadenko for the political side of the arinj, Lieut.-General Fedorenko for the tanks, Lieut.-General Jigarev for the air force, and Lieut.-General Khruhov for supplies.

BRITISH CHEERED. (Rec. 2.15 p.m.) RUGBY July 21. Sir Stafford Cripps (British Ambassador) and the British Military Mission were given a great ovation, according to Press messages, when they attended a concert on Sunday night in Moscow. The announcement of their presence was made from the stage and such cheers ns followed the announcement had not been heard in Moscow for the British since Mr Eden’s visit in 1935,—-Official Wireless.