NAZI PINCER MOVEMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21534, 24 September 1941, Page 5

NAZI PINCER MOVEMENT

COSTLY SUCCESS AT KIEV BULK OF BUDENNY’S ARMY EXTRICATED RUSSIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS—LENINGRAD ADVANCE LONDON, Sept. 23 The German pincer movement against Kiev has given the Nazis a costly, if spectacular success, but there is every prospect that Marshal Budenny will be able to extricate the bulk of his army to continue the fight in defence of the industrial region of the Ukraine. Another great struggle is expected here shortly. In the Leningrad sector the Germans admit that the Russians are still counter-attacking and Moscow claims a further advance in one section. The Germans are still on the defensive in the central sector, while Odessa still stands firm and has repulsed yet another attack.

NEW RUSSIAN HERO RENOWNED ALONG FRONT ENEMY FORCE ANNIHILATED 1 (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) 1 (Received Sept. 24, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23 A new Russian hero, Ivan Petroff, has arisen. Tne Tass Agency says his name is renowned on the whole 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 Petroff’s command and lodged a lar.ge force between the junction of two Russian units. The Rumanians drove a wedge nearly a mile deep. The enemy then threw a second large force into the gap and success seemed assured. 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 willi dead and dying. One Rumanian battalion was completely annihilated and the wedge was cut off at its base. The enemy began to mass large forces in the evening for a fresh attack, but immediately met a hail of grenades and machine-gun fire, and the attack collapsed. LENINGRAD DEFENCES ADMISSION BY GERMANS HUGE TANK TRAPS (Ofncial Wireless) (Received Sept. 24, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 23 A semi-official German military review admits that the defences of Leningrad are extraordinarily severe, necessitating heavy losses. The review, which was cabled from Switzerland, says the obstacles before Leningrad consist of huge tank traps, also rows of pine trunks jammed several yards in the earth and extending a mile long. Forests have been cut down a yard above the earth and there are countless concrete pyramids and barbed-wire. 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. Russia Rejects Protest Russia has rejected the protest of the Bulgarian Government in which it alleged that Russian parachutists had landed on Bulgarian territory. The Russian Minister in Sofia told the Bulgarian Government the allegation had been concocted by the Bulgarian police. Germany, according to an American report, is threatening the complete occupation of Bulgaria unless that country declares war on Russia. Bulgarian troops who have been stationed on the Turkish frontier for some time are stated to have been moved to an unknown destination. A round-up of all opponents to Bulgarian-German collaboration is in progress. NEW IRAN CABINET ANGLO-RUSSIAN TROOPS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgnt) LONDON, Sept. 23 A new Cabinet has been formed in Iran. The British and Russian forces, it is officially stated, have not entered the capital, Teheran, but have remained on the outskirts. The two commanders entered the city for a conference but left again as soon as it was over. One of the first acts of the new Government, which consists largely of those men who negotiated the agreement with Britain and Russia, has been to recall the country's diplomatic representatives in Germany, Italy and Rumania. The former Shah has left Isfahan and it is believed that he is en route to Kerman. One report says he may be allowed into India, as a private individual. It is understood that he recently transferred his private account in a Teheran bank, amounting to £25,000, to Delhi. One report says that in a letter published’ yesterday the ex-Shah stated: “I cede to my son all my property except 10 grammes of sugar candy which he may use in the interests of the State.” Withdrawal of Diplomats The Rome radio broadcast a report from Ankara to the effect that Iran has decided to withdraw diplomatic representatives from Italy and Germany. RAID ON FRANCE ROUEN FACTORIES BOMBED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 24, noon) VICHY, Sept. 23 It is officially stated that the Royal Air Force damaged French factories at Rouen on September 20* killing IS people and injuring 14.

GENERALS CONFER

WAYELL AND AUCHINLECK MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN REVIEW OF SITUATION LONDON, Sept. 23 General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of India, and General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East, have concluded a conference somewhere in the Middle East. They discussed the latest developments in the theatres under their control. General Wavell has returned to India. TO AID RUSSIA BRITISH LIGHTNING ATTACK MOVE TO THE CAUCASUS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 23 The Berne radio is reported to have said that the Commander-in-Chief in India, General Sir Archibald Wavell, is ready to launch a lightning attack ir. order to aid Russia. The radio added that powerful British and Imperial forces are massing in Syria and Irak in readiness for an early move across Iran to the Caucasus. AUSTRALIAN SNIPERS BEST IN THE WORLD (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 17 “Australians are the best snipers in the world,” a captured German officer told an Australian officer, states the special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald at Tobruk. “Their observation is so keen that they won’t shoot at a trench periscopfe until a German is looking through it,” said the German officer. “They, are also experts at camouflage. “I have been through the campaign in Poland and the Western front, but Tobruk is the toughest fighting I have yet struck. It is the first time we have come up against anything like it. Tobruk’s defenders are men their commander should be proud of.” Captured Germans and Italians pay tributes to the excellence of the British gunnery. They say the British 25-pounders are particularly deadly, and have caused them heavy casualties. One Italian said he had seen whole Italian patrols wiped out by British artillery fire near the Tobruk perimeter. DUKE OF WINDSOR TO VISIT CALGARY RANCH (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 23 The Duke of Windsor is expected to confer with American officials on the way through Washington to visit his ranch near Calgary, Canada. MR DUFF=COOPER TO VISIT AUSTRALIA (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 24 The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr A. W. Fadden, announced last night that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr A. DuffCooper, will visit Australia as soon as he is settled in his headquarters in Singapore. AUSTRALIAN MINISTER DEPARTURE FOR ENGLAND (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlffct) SYDNEY, Sept. 24 The Australian Minister to visit London, Sir Earle Page, left on the first stage of his journey to Britain yesterday. EXECUTIONS IN FRANCE THREE COMMUNISTS SHOT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 24, 11 a.m.) VICHY, Sept. 23 The German military headquarters at Lille announce that the. death sentences passed by a court-martial held j on August 23 on the Communists, ! Alfred de Lattres. Marcel Deify and . Andre ie Fabvre, of Harnes, for repeated crimes with arson explosive t have been carried out, the condemned 4 Bftgp having been ano*.