TERRIFYING SIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24721, 25 September 1941, Page 7

TERRIFYING SIGHT

LENINGRAD AT NIGHT INCESSANT EXPLOSIONS SERVICES DISORGANISED (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec> 1 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. When his attention is turned to the immense fluid battlelines southwards of the Smolensk region, an observer is confronted with the greatest immediate menace to the Soviet, but there is plenty of evidence in many areas that the Russians have : 1 hot'lost in the slightest degree their capacity for fierce counter-attacks. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says the Germans are apparently masters of the lower Dnieper from the Black Sea to the bend around Zaporozhe. They also hold all the territory eastwards of this reach of the Dnieper as far as the Sea of Azov, somewhere southward of Melitopol. Possession of the Dnieper reach between Zaporozhe and Kremenchug seems to be still disputed, but it may be largely held by the Russians, whose reports do not admit that the Germans have advanced beyond the Poltava district, where the retiring Russians checked a drive against Kharkov last week-end. According to Berlin reports the German assault on Kiev was greatly facilitated by artificial fog, laid by new rapid methods in the neighbourhood of an intended target. The Russian spokesman, M. Lozovsky, poo-poohed German claims that large Russian forces were encircled eastwards of Kiev. “ The Germans,” he said, “ made similar claims elsewhere, but were forced to admit their untruth.” t Reports from Stockholm say that German and Finnish forces are continuing their slow progress eastwards towards the White Sea from the Salla region. Between Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega, the Finns are apparently about 20 miles from Petrozavodsk, which they are bombing. LENINGRAD’S FIERY ORDEAL The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that people in. Leningrad are reported to be suffering great hardships, not so much frain actual shelling as from interruptions in the water and electricity supplies, which have disorganised the public services. From Finland the environs of Leningrad are a terrifying sight, especially at night, when the incessant firing and explosion of Russian and German shells are seen across Kronstadt Bay. A Rushan communique issued last night states: “During September 2'3 our troops engaged in fighting along the entire front. During September 21, 53 enemy planes were destroyed,' 28 in aerial combat, and 25 on aerodromes. We' lost 16.” FIGHTING ON CENTRAL FRONT A supplementary Moscow communique states: “The results of four days of fierce fighting in. the central front are now known. The Germans’ 233rd and 235th Infantry Regiments of the 102nd Infantry Division suffered heavy losses. Twenty-five hundred enemy officers and soldiers have been killed and two gun batteries and 10 mine-throwing batteries destroyed. The Germans were wiped out in their positions. On the north-western front our air force destroyed 43 tanks. On another-section of this front eight enemy tanks, seven anti-aircraft guns, and 35 lorries were destroyed by our air force. In the fighting against Finnish Troops, 150 enemy troops were killed and seven machine-guns, important documents, and a large amount of ammunition captured.

WINTER TAKES A HAND HEAVY SNOW FALLING . * LONDON, Sept. 23. ' The Moscow radio announced that heavy snow is falling over wide areas of the Russian front. Referring to the enemy’s enormous losses, the Moscow radio speaker said that in the Beloseev forest alone, near Kiev, over 30,000 Germans were killed and wounded, and between 45,000 and 50,000 Germans had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner in battles lasting 10 days near Lake Ilmen in the early part of September. The speaker admitted that the Soviet was also suffering from serious losses, for which reason he stressed the importance of reserves.

manians drove a wedge nearly a mile deep. The enemy then threw a second large force into the gap, and success seemed fissured. The Russian artillery, however, went into action and a hurricane of point-blank fire mowed down the Axis battalions. The attack spent itself, and the enemy began to retreat. The entire valley was strewn with dead and dying. One Rumanian battalion was completely annihilated. The wedge was cut off at its base. The enemy began to mass large forces in f*he evening for a fresh attack, but immediately met a hail of grenades and machine-gun fire, and the attack collapsed.

The British United Press Moscow correspondent reports that bitter fighting is continuing southwards of Lake Ilmen. The Germans are still suffering very heavy losses.

The Berlin radio admitted that the Russians yesterday launched a heavy attack at Poltava, using tanks, artillery, and an armoured train. It said that the Russians had also launched several tank attacks in the Leningrad sector.

A German communique says: '‘After the forces concentrated eastwards of Kiev unsuccessfully attempted to break out there are increasing signs of disintegration among the enemy. The prisoners in this battle total about 380,000.” A semi-official German military review admits that the defences of Leningrad are extraordinarily severe, necessitating heavy losses. Tire review, which was cabled from Switzerland, says the obstacles before Leningrad consist of huge tank traps, as well as rows of pine trunks jammed several yards in the earth, and extending a mile in depth. Forests have been cut down a yard above the earth, with additional countless concrete pyramids and barbed ware. The Russian garrisons occupy new great rings of forts immediately squads of workers finish their construction. The forts are fully protected against all but the heaviest bombs and shells. New Russian Hero A new Russian hero, Ivan Petrov, has arisen. The Tass Agency says his name is renowned throughout the Russian-German front. He commands a sector on the Odessa front, which has repelled some of the most terrific onslaughts of the war. The enemy hurled nine divisions against Petrov’s command and lodged a large force between the junction of two Russian units. Ru-