CRIMEA DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 7

CRIMEA DRIVE

MASS PANZER FORCES DEFENCES UNSHAKEN POSSIBLE AIR INVASION LONDON, Sent. 30 The Daily Telegraph Stockholm correspondent says the attack against the Crimea took on tremendous dimensions when early yesterday panzer brigades launched a new mass attack from the village of Kalanchak against the defences of the Perekop Isthmus. The German commander, von Runstedt, has concentrated 12 full divisions, nearly 250,000 men, on this front. Stukas and Heinkels are making nonstop raids on the Russian positions and lines of communication, but the defenders' organisation and morale are unshaken. The German frontal attacks of the past live days have all been costly and spectacular failures. Shock Troops Assembled The correspondent adds that it is believed in Stockholm that the Germans intend to launch a gigantic air-borne invasion of the Crimea. According to information received in Russian circles in Stockholm, four regular "wehrmacht" divisions are standing by in Rumania in readiness for the invasion of the Crimea, while shock spearhead forces, consisting of three special paratroop divisions of 7000 men each, and two picked storm troop divisions have been assembled on Bulgarian airfields at Varna and Burgas and also Ruse. The Russians also report the arrival of 1000 Junkers transport aeroplanes at these airfields, and also paratroops at Constanta, Tuleea and Silistra. Ukraine Push Slowed Down The sudden slowing-down of the German advance in the Ukraine may merely mean that the most advanced troops are checked and the German High Command is making its customary preparations for a further batter-ing-ram push in great force. There is no further information supporting the earlier report that a German onslaught against Kharkov has already begun, but brisk: engagements have occurred at various points, where the Russians are often the attackers. The Berlin radio admitted that the Russians on the southern front have launched attacks "with numerically greatly superior forces," which it was claimed were repulsed after fierce tank encounters.

SAFETY OF INDIANS "THREATENED AREAS" GOVERNMENT PRECAUTIONS (Heed. 10.15 p.m.) PESHAWAR. Sept. 30 An official communique says: "Although the world crisis so far has presented no threat to the frontiers of India, the Government of India, in accordance with its policy of taking precautions to deal with any emergency, has ordered preparations and plans for the evacuation or dispersal of all classes of the general public from threatened areas." Discussions were held by the Com-mander-in-Chief in India, General Sir Archibald Wavell, and the Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the Middle East, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, in Bagdad on Friday and Saturday regarding co-operation between India and the Middle East forces against the Axis front in that part of the world, states a Simla message. General Wavell is returning to India to-day.

NEUTRALITY REVISION UNITED STATES CAMPAIGN CARGOES MUST BE DELIVERED (Reed. 7.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept, 29 In order to draw up final plans for revision of the Neutrality Act, President Roosevelt lias summoned the Secretary of State, Mr. Co I'd ell Hull, to a special conference at White House to-morrow. The President's conference with leaders of Congress has been postponed until Wednesday. In launching the Administration's campaign for revision of the Act, Senator Tom Connally, in a broadcast, urged the removal of the ban on arming merchant ships and enabling them to voyage to combat zones. "The establishment of combat zones from which our ships are barred has failed," he said. "Hitler recognises no zones but sinks our ships wherever they may be. He defies us and murders our citizens. Lease-lend, to be effective, requires that the cargoes be delivered." Informed circles believe that a modification of the Act to empower the arming of merchantmen is practically assured. It is thought that amending proposals will not be submitted to Congress until the lease-lend appropriation is passed. BOMBERS OVER BRITAIN (Reed. 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30 Very few raiders were over Britain last night, and they confined their activities mainly to coastal districts of Kngland and Scotland. Bombs dropped by a single raider on a town in the north-east of Scotland demolished some houses and caused a number of casualties, some fatal. The German news agency claims that bombers sank a British destroyer off the east coast.