AID FOR RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24685, 14 August 1941, Page 7

AID FOR RUSSIA

ACTION BY BRITAIN LAND AND AIR FORCES SOVIET PAPER’S HINT (Bee. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. ' The latest Russian communique states that there were no fresh* - developments on the front last night. Details are given of the air offensive against enemy concentrations. The German communique states that in the Southern Ukraine the German and allied forces continue to pursue the Russians, who are retreating to Black Sea ports. The Germans earlier claimed that their forces had reached Odessa and had encircled Marshal Budenny’s armies. Neutral observers, however, report that the Russians are carrying out an orderly withdrawal. The Moscow radio said that the Russians could afford to abandon “ scorched earth ” and defend the main industrial areas. The Soviet newspaper Pravda hints that Britain is about to give Russia support on land as well as raiding Germany from the air. The Pravda adds that military experts predict more successful blows against Germany at an early date. A Moscow communique claims that the Russians annihilated the 68th Division after a battle which lasted throughout the day. The Assistant Commissar for Foreign Affairs, M. Lozovsky, after showing journalists in Moscow photographs of the mutilated bodies of Russian soldiers and civilians, including Children, said: “Hitler and his gang will be.treated according to their deserts—according to a law these sadists understand, namely, two eyes for . one and a whole mouthful for one tooth.” that German planes which attempted 'to raid Moscow were dispersed by night fighters and anti-aircraft Are, and none reached the capital. The Moscow radio announced that Marshal Timochenko personally and victoriously led his troops in one of fiercest encounters of ; the x war. The: enemy, after . r reinforced, were holding an advantage when. Marshal Timoshenko shouted, “ Forward for the Father- . land,” after which a tank unit advanced. Artillery put up a fierce barrage, and the infantry stormed the German $ lines. ' i( -V Berlin officials stated late to-night that Odessa had been isolated by German forces reaching the coast westward and eastward of the,city, . ’ ' . ' NEW GERMAN WAR MAP

The reproduction of the latest, ostensibly official, German war map shows a front from the Black Sea to the Gulf of Riga. It starts from the mouth of the Dniester, semicircling Odessa to. the River Bug, between Nikolaiev and Voznesensk, thence curving north-east to a level with Pervonaisk, then-back northwest to a point eastward of Uman, thence northwards to where it crosses the 'Pripet River and the Pinsk-BiVansk railway, whence it sweeps from Viazma back to Veikiyeluki, following the Loyat River southward to Lake Ilmen, then straight to.-a point northward of Cdov, after, which it goes across Lake Peipus north-west to Tapa. thence straight to Parhu. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says: “ Judging from all .available information this map is approximately correct regarding -the positions during the week-end.' It is noteworthy that the line nowhere touches the Gulf of Finland, but shpws that Navva, Tallinn, Paldiskiih and over half of Estonia are still ip Russian hands. It is necessary to remember, however that no definite line exists as the fighting zone is mostly 20 and frequently 100 miles deep.” t . A Russian communique says: “ Nothing of importance occurred on the fronts yesterday. Our aircraft, in co-operation /with the land forces, dealt blows at enemy infantry and motorised and mechanised units. Forty-one German planes were destroyed on August 11, when we lost 34. The verified number of German planes brought down during the air raid on Moscow, on the night of August 11 is two. Warships and the a’r arm of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet destroyed four enemy

motor torpedo boats and two enemy transports on August 11.” “ Close behind the advancing Germans are; units formed by officials and employees of. the Reichsbank.” says the Frankfurter Zeitung. It adds: “It is their task-to open up immediately in occupied territories Reich credit offices and settle all German money needs by confiscating coins and replacing them bycredit certificates. Eastern front offices have been. established at Kovho, Lvov, Riga, Byalistok-Minsk, Sitomir, and Pskov.” Careful reading of this list reveals the striking omission of Smolensk, the capture of which the Germans claimed- some time ag6, and which would" certainly appear to be subject to such Reichsbank office if the Nazis really had been in a position to establish one there. Twenty million roubles were handed to the Soviet National Defence. Fund as a xesult of a “free” day’s work by. Soviet railwaymen and their families- Over 1,300,000 workers gave one Sunday to assist the railways, for which they took no pay. Many observers thought communications would prove the weakest link in the Soviet defence. Official quarters admit that the railways were subjected to severe strain during the first days of the war, but they have, stood the test. Large numbers of maintenance men are always stationed ready to repair the track at any point, and as a result there has been no serious hold-up on vital lines. Furthermore, a vast quantity of rolling stock was brought back from western Russia and the Baltic States. Railwaymen. before abandoning any section, always destroy the operative parts as well as any equinment they are unable to bring away.