FIERCE FIGHTING AND HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 169, 21 July 1941, Page 5

FIERCE FIGHTING AND HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES

RUSSIANS ATTACK A CONVOY CLAIM TO HAVE SUNK ELEVEN MORE GERMAN SHIPS IN BALTIC CAPTURE OF SMOLENSK HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED * London, July 20. The latest Russian communique docs not admit the German claim to have captured Smolensk, an important railway centre on the road to Moscow. Fierce fighting continues on the main sectors of the front, both sides suffering severe losses. Destruction of 11 ships in a German convoy in the Baltic, is claimed by the Russians, who say that the convoy was attacked by bombers, destroyers and motor torpedo-boats. Eleven ships and one tanker were sunk. Russian losses were one plane and one motor torpedo-boat. The Russians do not mention the exact locality of the engagement, but reference to a transport suggests that the Germans were trying, by seaborne troops, to reinforce the armies thrusting toward Leningrad. (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) London, July 19. While the German High Command claimed that Smolensk was captured on Wednesday, the latest Russian communique does not admit the fall of the city, although it reports heavy fighting in the Smolensk sector.

The paper Ued Star claims that guerrillas are operating in the German rear and have captured two neighbouring cities. Strong partisan bands helped surround and wipe out German garrisons. The capture of Novograd-Volynsk is claimed by the German news agency, but there is no confirmation of this from Russian sources. Amplifying the claim to the capture of Smolensk, the German agency says that while fierce artillery fire is still going on round Smolensk, a German detachment, in a lightning attack, penetrated the town and occupied the outer districts. Considerable Soviet forces were destroved.

Another German communique claims that German and Rumanian troops from Bessarabia forced a passage over the Dniester River at several points.

Finnish Report The Finnish army broke the enemy resistance, and pressed forward to the northern shores of Lake Ladoga. In the Kiev sector, the Germans say, a Soviet divisional general and numerous high staff officers were captured. A Vichy news agency mentions an unconfirmed report that the Germans have taken prisoner Stalin’s son by a former marriage, who is an infantry lieutenant. It is reported from Ankara that Russian bombings have so severely damaged the Ploesti oil fields that the Rumanian authorities have notified Turkish importers of oil that deliveries must be drastically’ cut in the near future. Rumania's oilrefining capacity has been reduced by millions of tons yearly. The Unirea refinery has been destroyed, together with a subsidiary plant. One plant burned for 18 hours and 200.000 tons of petroleum products and 18 tanks of other equipment were set on fire. The Red Air Force reports the destruction of two transports and five oil barges on the Danube. Secret German Radio A secret German anti-party radio violently attacked the treatment of German wounded on the eastern front and alleged the wounded are dying in thousands because after a simple injection they are transported back from the front in carts for hundreds of miles over bumpy roads before receiving further treatment. —U.P.A. (Recd. 9 p.m.) London, July 20. Moscow claims that the Russian Air Force on Saturday, continued destruction of enemy’ mechanised units, motorised troops and planes. Russian Guerillas "Russian guerilla parties are being organised in Norway’, where fires destroyed a German army garage, depots for grain, fuel and ammunition. Serious disturbances are reported to have broken out in Slovakia. Dozens of Germans were manhandled and seriously injured. It is officially stated at Moscow that a large crowd of peasants in Rumania surrounded a convoy of supply waggons for the German army, shouting: "We will not give the Germans Rumanian bread.” Eight German and 25 Rumanian soldiers guarded the convoy. The peasants stone! the Germans and then the Rumanian soldiers disarmed the Germans and the peasants seized the supplies. The Moscow radio stated that M. Stalin has been appointed Commissar for Defence. Marshal Timoshensko is Vice-Commissar.

The Moscow radio also quotes the Turkish newspaper Tan, saying that General Rommel, together with panzer corps in Nortt* Africa, has been moved from Libya to the BulgarianTurkish frontier. The Sunday Dispatch believes it is significant that recent Cairo communiques have not mentioned brushes with the Germans.— U.P.A. ’ It is reported from Helsinki that the Finns have captured Vartsila, 33 miles northward of the Sortavala, and found factories and houses wrecked and aflame. The town of Enso was also in ruins. Attack on Earlier Convoy The Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent says that more detail":! information about the Russian attack on a German convoy on July 12 reveals that four German destroyers and at least 13 armed transports were

sunk. The convoy consisted of 50 vessels and it is unlikely that many succeeded in reaching their own shores. (Recd. 6.30 p.m.) Rugby, July 19. Little fresh news of the RussianGerman fighting is contained in the mid-day Russian communique, which says: “During the night of FridaySaturday our troops continued intense fighting in the Polotsk Neve!. Smolensk and Bobruisk. Nothing of importance occurred in other sectors of the front. “Our air force during Friday and the night of Friday and Saturday morning, destroyed mechanised units of the enemy and acted against the enemy air force on his aerodromes. In addition to the figures previously stated, during Wednesday and Thursday our air force destroyed 39 enemy planes. Our losses in the same period were 16. During Friday’ our air force destroyed 32 enemy’ planes.”