ALL DESTROYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 9

ALL DESTROYED

FACTORIES IN UKRAINE DEVASTATED ODESSA SITUATION IN BALTIC (Reed. 7.42. p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 22 - The Italian newspaper Gazetta del Popolo, published in Turin, reports' that destruction in the industrial districts of the Ukraine has been systematic. All factories have been either dynamited or burned and there is no hope of using them. The devastation "at Odessa is indescribable. The Russians had blown up a dam in fire-places, flooding the centre of the city and the suburbs to the level of the first floor of the houses. The higher parts of the town were not affected by the flood, but the Russians left them in flames. The port of Odessa has been completely destroyed, and only one small steamer, which was blown up, lies near a quay. Germans Claim Stalin A German communique says Italian and German units yesterday occupied the area around the town of Stalin, and Alpine detachments took the town. The communique adds that during moppingup on the battlefield east of Bryansk General Patroff, commander-in-chief of the Fifth Soviet Army, and a member of the Supreme Soviet Council, in addition to several of his staff, was killed. The German radio, in claiming that the Germans have captured Stalin, declared that the Russians had evacuated a huge extent of territory north of tie Sea of Azov. Guerillas in Baltic Area The Stockholm correspondent of the Times, referring to the German operations in the Baltic area, says guerillas prevent the Germans from leaving the main routes except in strong detachments. Guerillas continue active even in the Baltic States where the population has from the first not been hostile. Districts still exist where the Germans have not penetrated, including some of the islands. Russian bands still lurk in the forests, and Russian batteries on the island of Dago still shell the island of Vorms, which the Germans are occupying. A special Berlin announcement, however, states that all the Baltic islands, including Dago, are in German hands. Dago, it is claimed, was finally captured after 10 days of fierce fighting. The campaign in the Baltic is now considered . ended. HAVOC WROUGHT SOVIET AIR FORCE TANK CREWS' BRAVERY LONDON. Oct. 21 The Soviet Air Force is constantly dealing blows on the enemy. In one sector on the centra! front the Red Air Force during live days destroyed 108 enemy tanks, motor-cars, six tank.-:. Iw.i heavy tanks, two heavy Wins and two anti-aircraft batteries.

Kusi.'an •o.pjjleiiHmtary comrnunif)i|(. yiatf-s that on Sunday 2.'5 Gorman aeroplanes v.ere destroyed. Ihe •-Oviet losses wore >even aeroplanes. One °f the Soviet air squadrons operating 0,1 one oi the sectors of the Ore! front 011 Sunday destroyed 2,'? enemy tanks, armoured ear* and 31 motor-cars, same > day the same squadron bombed successful!v an enemy aeroorrie and destroyed 20 German airCr aft on the ground. file coinniunitiue then refers to the heroism of Soviet tank crews operating I 1) the Ore! ironi, who have been inuf'ting heavy on the enemy. It ''One tauk crew during Sunday "led ono company of infantry soldiers, •"i Saturday ono "Soviet tank attacked . werman tanks which were in the niiage of ISkovo and destroyed nine.'