GERMAN CLAIMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 203, 29 July 1941, Page 5

GERMAN CLAIMS.

DESTRUCTION OF RUSSIANS

(Roc. 11.35 a.ni.) LONDON. July 28. The Berlin News Agency states that the destruction of the Russians in the Mohilev area (on the River Dniester) proceeded rapidly yesterday, when the Germans took prisoners a further 23.000. making a total of 35.000 men.

To-day’s German communique says the battle of Smolensk is nearing a successful conclusion. All attempts to prevent the annihilation of the encircled Soviet forces have been frustrated. “in the Ukraine we are constantly pressing the retreating enemy. German and Finnish troops have gained further ground in the face of stubborn resistance.”

A Rusisan despatch from the front line said the battle oil tile Finnish front, which had lasted 13 days, had resulted in half a German infantry division being wiped out and the other half routed.

The Soviet Foreign Office, affirming that the Finnish Government is detaining nil various pretexts Soviet Consular and commercial representatives, besides engineers and other officials who were in Finland before the war. has asked the Swedish Government to intervene and make representations to the Finnish Government concerning their detention. NO CONFIRMATION. Assessment of all reports suggests that the Russo-German war is stationary from the Arctic at least to the Ukraine, and probably to the Black Sea. It is now nearly three weeks since the Russians mentioned a new area, apart from Jitomir. which is merely an extension of the NovogradVolynsk area.

The Germans to-day are mentioning fighting south-east and west ol Vyasma, and it is pointed out in London that Smolensk, Bobruisk, and Mohilev might all include this phase. These ere all a long way from Vyasma. and there is no confirmation forthcoming that fighting is occurring any nearer that point than these three towns.

German and Finnish propaganda continues to insist on the most sweeping claims in the attack against Leningrad. but there is no confirmation from elsewhere.

The Finns, according to the Dailv Exprees correspondent at Stockholm, make the biggest claims, declaring thov have smashed down the southern shores of Lake Ladoga and reached the outskirts of Leningrad, and have now straddled the railways from Leningrad to Aloseow and Leningrad to Vologda. The Germans, according to the same source, have been reinforced by tanks and infantry in the Porkhov zone and are attacking. Official Finnish claims merely state: “The Finns in North Karelia have successfully completed another large-scale encircling operation, which has yielded a large amount of war material. The offensive is proceeding satisfactorily and according to plan on all fronts.”

There is also no confirmation of these claims.