CEASELESS VIGIL

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21486, 30 July 1941, Page 6

CEASELESS VIGIL

BRITISH WARSHIPS OVER 100,000 MILES SUCCESSFUL ENCOUNTERS 'Official Wireless) (Received July 30, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 29 How British warships are standing up to the strain of the ceaseless vigil over oceans and the successful encounters with elusive enemies after long chases, was described in London by a senior naval engineering officer. Many cruisers and destroyers have steamed over 100,000 miles since the war began. This means ships staying at sea about 300 days in the year, with rare opportunities for overhaul and refit. Immediately before a decisive defeat was inflicted on the Italians on March 23 at Cape Matapan the fleet had steamed at high speed for 31 hours in order to catch up with the enemy. During the chase of the German battleship Bismarck the engines of H.M.S. Rodney, though over thirteen years old. put up a performance which exceeded anything previously attained. “Without going into too much detail,” said the officer, “you can take it that the elusive aircraft carrier Ark Royal has seen a bit of the world since the war started.” NEARING A CLIMAX BATTLE FOR SMOLENSK RUSSIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS (UnftPd Press Assn.—Flee. Tel. Copyrig-ht) (Received July 30, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 29 Russian counter-attacks are reported to have spread to all the major sectors. The Germans are doing their utmost to push forward, particularly in the Smolensk area, but the Russians are fiercely striking at each strategic point. Latest advices from Moscow say that Smolensk is still in Russian hands, and General Timoshenko’s army here seems to have looped around the German spearhead, and the battle appears near a climax. Despite German claims Marshal Voroshilov seems to have nailed down the German-Finnish thrust against Leningrad. The Germans say the Finns have regained all the territory which the Russians took in the Russian-Finnish war. According to the Times correspondent on the German frontier the Germans continue to assert that the ring around Leningrad is steadily closing, claiming that at one point south-west they are within 40 miles of the city, also that German infantry from Lake Peipus has reached Wolosowo, near Domojirovva. Other German forces from the south are now north of Lake Eilmen, near Novogorod. One German panzer division was reported to have reached this point some time ago and been repulsed, but the German forces are now able to withstand the Russian counter-attacks. The Finns claim to have captured islands off Salmi. Russians Surprise Enemy, The Russians, however, have surprised the Germans in the northwestern sectors, bringing up new divisions from the Urals. The Germans had not believed that troops could be brought so l'ar so quickly. The Germans say that the weather has improved in the Ukraine, and a more rapid advance is expected. Axis troops in the south of Ukraine are pressing on after the retreating enemy, and the southern flank is approaching the Black Sea on a broad front.