SOUTHERN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1941, Page 5

SOUTHERN FRONT

NAZNRUMANIAN THRUST DECISIVE BATTLE LIKELY. FOR POSSESSION OF SOUTHERN UKRAINE. ' (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 25. The “Neuw Zurcher Zeitung's” Bucharest correspondent, describing the situation on the Rumanian-Russian frontier, says a large part of the former German army in the Balkans is now pushing northwards from Moldavia, beyond Czernowitz. The southern wing, consisting mainly of Rumanians, after crossing the Pruth, is reported to be approaching the River Dneister, in the direction of Odessa. Other German commentators predict that the Russians will be forced to withdraw to the line of the River Bug, where a decisive battle for the possession of the Southern Ukraine is likely to take place.

AIR FIGHTING HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. DISCLOSED IN RUSSIAN COMMUNIQUE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) RUGBY, June 25. A Russian communique reports that the German offensive along a farstretching front has been met by the Red Army’s stubborn resistance. The communique adds: ‘'Our aviation, cooperating with the armies in the field, dealt crushing blows to an aerodrome and important enemy military targets. During air battles, our Air Force brought down 34 aircraft. During June 22 to June 24, the Soviet Air Force lost 374 aircraft, mainly on aerodromes. During the same period the Soviet Air Force brought down 161 German air-1 craft in air battles. In addition, according to approximate information] available, no fewer than 220 aircraft were destroyed on enemy aerodromes.”