DESTRUCTION OF DAM

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21513, 30 August 1941, Page 7

DESTRUCTION OF DAM

FLOODS FOR 100 MILES WILL STOP AT NOTHING (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. CopyrlgM) LONDON, August 29 Described as the most spectacular act of destruction in Russia since the burning of Moscow in 1812, the blowing-up of the great Dnieper’dam was officially announced yesterday by M. Lozovsky, of the Russian Ministry of Information. The dam held the river back for many miles, and its destruction is said to have flooded the surrounding country for 100 miles on both sides of the river. M. Lozovsky said: “We blew up the dam to stop the first achievement of the Five-Year Plan from falling into the hands of the bandits. All measures were taken to prevent the enemy from using the dam or its machinery.” Moscow claimed this morning that hundreds of miles of country on both sides of the river were flooded. The New York Times says the action proves that Russia will stop at nothing and Hitler must wonder whether the game is worth the candle. Moscow points out that although the loss of the dam is a blow the country’s real defence arsenal is in the Ural Mountains. In preventing the crops of the Ukraine being used by the Germans the Russians have destroyed all the communal farms, tractors and other machinery. Enemy Transports Sunk

The Bussian air force has shot down 78 enemy aeroplanes in the last two days. It has heavily raided the East Frussian city of Konigsberg. Two German transports have been sunk in the Baltic. A Moscow communique says: Our troops fought the enemy along the entire front on the night of August