SEVERE PRESSURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24716, 19 September 1941, Page 5

SEVERE PRESSURE

LENINGRAD’S ORDEAL THE GERMAN ASSAULT EVERY MILITARY DEVICE USED LONDON, Sept. 17. With Leningrad subjected to the severest pressure from every German military device and General von Rundstedt’s advance across the Dnieper developing dangerously, the news of Marshal Timoshenko’s success at Yartsevo is welcomed, and has relieved a generally critical outlook for the heroic Russians. General Rokossovski, writing in Izvestia, emphasises the importance of Marshal Timoshenko’s victory at Yartsevo in barring the motor road to Moscow. He says the recapture of Yartsevo and Yelnia has destroyed German hopes of a further drive fi'om this sector. Explaining that a German tank division succeeded in occupying Yartsevo by a sudden thrust some six weeks ago with tile object of developing an offensive through the town and reaching Moscow by the shortest route—by the straight motor road—General Rokossovski adds that the sudden resistance by numerically small Russian forces managed to stem the enemy advance. The Germans lost a number of tanks and men near Yartsevo, and for that reason were forced to take the defensive while bringing up reinforcements before resuming the offensive. By several strong counter-blows the Russians not only foiled the second German offensive, but routed the German tank divisions, threw back the enemy from Yartsevo, and occupied the entire eastern bank of the Vop River. German Version of Fighting The Berlin military spokesman claimed that the advance forces in the Leningrad area, after being driven back, returned with flamethrowers, and, supported by hundreds of dive-bombers, smashed through the second belt of fortifications.

The attacks against Odessa were also resumed at full blast after the badly-battered Rumanians were relieved by German crack troops, who, however, seem to ue equally unable to make headway. General von Rundstedt is pressing on beyond the Dnieper, not only across the lower reaches towards Azov, but farther north between Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk. The German offensive northward of Kiev and southward of Gomel is also accelerating, so the ring is closing around Kiev. The German objectives are obviously Kharkov and Bryansk. If these are captured the encirclement of the whole of the Ukraine can hardly be prevented. Defence Stiffening

According to the latest reports from Moscow the battle for Leningrad is growing in intensity, with the Germans increasing their pressure and the Russians stiffening their defences on land and sea and in the air.

Reports describe the recapture by the Red Army of ,a village on the crossroads leading to Leningrad. The battle was fierce in character. As the Germans planned to launch a powerful new thrust from the village, naval artillery gave support to the land forces who stormed the enemy positions with no regard for themselves. The village was recaptured after very heavy losses had been inflicted on the Nazis. The enemy is reported to be hurling in new forces and concentrating vast curtains of fire in order to break the resistance of the defenders.

A battle is also reported to be taking place on the distant sea approaches to Leningrad, where the Germans are repeatedly attempting to capture Cesel and other islands controlling Riga Bay and the southern entrance to the Gulf , of Finland. After a four-hour battle last Saturday the Russians sank from four to six enemy transports, one destroyer, 10 cutters and many smaller ships. Other ships comprising the raiding fleet fled. Parachutists were used in another unsuccessful attack. Threat to Supply Line Discussing the most recent news of the situation on the Russian front, competent commentators refer to the German reports of a large-scale offensive which appears to be directed towards the Moscow-Lenin-grad railway in the direction of Bologoe. It is pointed out that if this operation proves successful the position of the Soviet forces in the intervening sector would become more difficult, as their supply line would be interfered with and the task of the German troops operating towards Leningrad would become correspondingly easier. The latest information from the Smolensk area affords ground for the belief that the Soviet forces are still counter-attacking here with success.

Further south the situation appears to show no definite change.