LINES OF ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1941, Page 5

LINES OF ATTACK

NAZIS’ APPARENT CHOICE MOVE ON LENINGRAD. AND IN DIRECTION OF MOSCOW. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.43 a.m.) RUGBY. June 26. The German attack on Russia appears to be developing on each of four fronts which military circles in London consider offer the most favourable chances of success. A direct attack from Finland on Leningrad is excluded in view of the difficulties of assessing the present Finnish situation. Of the four main possible lines of attack, the first is through the Baltic States in the direction of Leningrad. This terrain generally is suitable for operations, particularly by armoured units, but if the Russians were forced to withdraw there are possible strong lines of resistance up the Dvina River to Dvinsk. Since Leningrad is an important strategic point,' and the second city of Russia, it is highly probable that every effort will be made to hold it. The second line of attack runs through Bialystok and the Baranowicze gap, north of the Pripet Marshes, in the direction of Smolensk and Moscow. From the south-east corner of East Prussia, the country eastwards is suitable for all operations and is an extremely likely choice for the main German drive. The Baranowisze gap is the historic road of attack towards the East. The third line of attack runs from the frontier between the Rivers Bug and San, through Lwow towards Kiev. This is regarded as a vulnerable area. The fourth direction of attack, in which the Rumanians appear to be engaged, is across the Rivers Pruth and Dneister,- into the Southern Ukraine, with Odessa as one obvious objective. In this area the north part of Bessarabia is regarded as a danger point, since, if the Germans could cross the Dneister and Pruth, they might turn the Russian flank. Both rivers are fordable at a certain time of the year from July, but the Dneister is believed to have only one bridge. It is pointed out that while a study of the communiques shows that attacks are developing on all four fronts, they are heaviest in the first and second directions.

NAZI LIES

REGARDING DARDANELLES BASES ALLEGED BRITISH PRESSURE ON TURKEY. NOT A WORD OF TRUTH IN STORY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.43 a.m.) RUGBY, June 26. German propaganda reports are being put about that Russia is seeking the cession by Turkey of certain bases in the Dardanelles area. They add that at recent conversations between M. Maisky (Soviet Ambassador to Britain) and Mr Eden (British Foreign Secretary), M. Maisky sought to persuade Mr Eden to bring pressure to bear on Turkey with a view to making a cession to Russia of such bases. It is authoritatively stated in London that there is not a word of truth in this story or any part of it.