VIOLENT BATTLES RAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 23 July 1941, Page 7

VIOLENT BATTLES RAGE

OPERATIONS AT SMOLENSK GERMANS CROSS DNIESTER LONDON, July 22. Heavy fighting still continues on the three main sectors of the Russian front. Neither Berlin nor Moscow reports any considerable change in the situation. The German communique mentions no place names, but says the Russian defences are in isolated groups. Berlin speaks of very large counter-attacks by the Russians in the vicinity of Smolensk, the fall of which is still not admitted in

Moscow. Germany declares th the road is now open to Mosco

it. with the capture of the city w.

A report from Stockholm s crossed the River Dniester, am have been forced to retreat in t bolding the German thrust t

tates that the Germans have d it is possible that the Russians his sector. They are, however, o Leningrad, in the north.

The latest news indicates that the Germans have begun a new triple offensive aimed against Moscow, Leningrad, and Smolensk. They appear to have made some progress at Smolensk, but still speak of very heavy fighting.

In the drive to Leningrad the Germans are still held up south-east of Lake Peipus, and further north the Russians report an engagement 200 miles north east of Leningrad,

The Russians. claim the destruction of four German transports and destroyers in the Baltic. They say that during the day S 7 enemy planes were shot clown for the loss of 14 of their own.

The Official German News Agency states that when the Luftwaffe carried out a raid on Moscow, last night, the bomber crews reported that they encountered terific and concentrated antiaircraft fire. The Russians claim that 17 enemy planes were brought down at a cost of four Russian machines. The German News Agency states that the Luftwaffe on Monday bombed enemy aerodromes in all sectors east of the front. Railways west of Moscow and barracks, depots and troop concentrations were attacked. Dive-bombers inflicted heavy losses in tho NovogradVolynsk region. Von Papen, the Nazi Ambassador to Turkey, is busy preparing a peace offensive which will be launched after the attack on'Russia ends. Almost every diplomat in Turkey is being led to believe that it is his country’s God-given mission to secure peace between Britain and Germany. Mr Jesse Jones, the United States Federal Loan Administrator, announces America’s offer to buy certain products from Russia, notably manganese and chromium, which she might wish to sell in the purchase of American supplies of war. No specific amounts have been named.