WITHDRAWAL OF BUDENNY

Southland Times, Issue 24548, 24 September 1941, Page 5

WITHDRAWAL OF BUDENNY

CROSSING OF DONETZ RIVER (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. The Stefani News Agency (Rome) says that most of Marshal Budenny’s army that escaped encirclement eastwards of Kiev has withdrawn across the Donetz river. A Finnish communique states that Russian forces have evacuated the islands on the northern part of Lake Ladoga and are retreating. The Russians caused some destruction on Valamo island. Moscow radio, referring to the German practice of concealing losses, says a village in the central sector recaptured by the Russians contained 40 graves with 40 crosses bearing the names of 40 German soldiers, but 300 soldiers are buried in the graves. The newspaper Pravda says that in three months of the Russian war Germany and her satellites have consumed 5,000,000 tons of oil from thenreserve of 7,000,000 tons, from which they will soon be forced to tap current supplies. _The present production does not cover more than a third of the Germans’ requirements. RUSSIAN CLAIMS A. Moscow communique states: “In five days’ fierce fighting on one sector of the front our troops annihilated six German infantry battalions and captured seven guns, 30 mine-throwers, 15 trench mortars, eight machine-guns and other equipment, including 800 shells and scores of bicycles. On another sector we killed about 400 Germans and destroyed eight tanks, four armoured cars, 25 lorries and nine motor-cycles. In two days’ fighting on a sector on the southern front we heavily defeated the 4th Rumanian Alpine Brigade, killing 600. In the fighting along the entire front on Monday we destroyed 100 German planes for the loss of 21. The Soviet has ordered a relaxation of the black-out in Moscow city, including illuminating the squares and principal streets, except, during airraids. Hitherto the city has been darkened completely. The British and American delegations to the Moscow conference have arrived in Russia. BRITISH TANKS FOR RUSSIA (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 22. Tanks will soon reach Russia from Britain in great numbers. “This ceremony is a symbol of unity of our people,” said the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr Harold Macmillan) at a ceremony. “Let us hope this will be a ceremony which will bring not only victory to Russia and to England, but also the first sign of co-operation and friendship which will last both during the war and during the coming years of peace,” At a Midland tank factory M. Ivan Maisky, the Soviet Ambassador, was presented with two tanks to mark the opening of the “Speed the Tanks for Russia” campaign. The first of the tanks was named Stalin by Madame Maisky, who pulled away from the turret the red flag of Russia, which was hauled down by a red, white and blue cord. As soon as this tank had left the factory it was closely followed by another tank named Voroshilov. BRITISH PHYSICIAN TO GO TO MOSCOW (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 22. The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, has asked Sir Charles Wilson, president of the Royal College of Physicians, to join the British Mission of Moscow in order to report to him on any medical help that should be given to Russia.