REPORTED BY GERMANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1941, Page 5

REPORTED BY GERMANS

Forces Said To ,Be Advancing Towards Moscow HEAVY FIGHTING ON FLANK AND REAR OF ENEMY ADVANCE ACCORDING TO THE RUSSIANS LONDON, June 30. With no news on the subject from Russian sources, the Germans claim this afternoon to have captured Minsk, the capital of White Russia. The Germans claim also that their forces are half-way along- the road to' Moscow, presumably from the Russian frontier". According' to a German broadcast, Minsk fell to a pincer movement, presumably an advance from East Prussia and another from the south-west.

The Russians state that a heavy attack on Russian troops on the flank and rear of the advanced German forces was unsuccessful and that they are holding’ a line in that area. German advanced troops were being- heavily attacked in the Minsk area and were in a difficult position. The enemy movement in the Ukraine is stated by the Russians to have been stopped. The Germans report many Russian counter-attacks in this area. In Bessarabia the Russians still seem to be holding- their own. A Russian communique reports fighting- at Murmansk, at the extreme north and a minor and unsuccessful offensive by the enemy towards Leningrad in the Karelian Isthmus. A German force which attempted to outflank the Soviet forces was completely destroyed. Vichy has broken off diplomatic relations with Russia. A message from T'okio says that a statement dealing with Japan’s relations with Russia is likely to be issued tomorrow.