IN PROGRESS IN EASTERN WAR ZONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1941, Page 5

IN PROGRESS IN EASTERN WAR ZONE

Enemy Penetration in Minsk Area INDICATIONS OF BROADENING FRONT SEVEN U-BOATS SUNK BY RUSSIANS (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, July 1. The Germans claim the capture of Luck, south of the Pripet marshes in Russian Poland. This is more than probable, as an earlier Russian communique states that the German advance had been stopped 40 miles west of Luck. The German claim regarding’ the advance beyond Minsk is now modified, but some reports suggest that the advance is being made on a broader front than was at first indicated. On the Finnish frontier and in the far north the Russians say that in last night’s fighting the enemy gained some ground in the Murmansk sector, but claim that the advance was halted with heavy loss to the enemy. Russian aircraft have raided Finnish towns on the south coast. In the Baltic States the Germans say they have reached the River Dvina on a broad front and have crossed it at several points. Violent Russian counter-attacks failed. Russian reports speak of powerful blows inflicted on the enemy by the Russian air force, but the Soviet forces in Latvia and Lithuania are obviously in difficulties and in danger of being cut off. The Germans say they have destroyed the railway line from the Baltic to Leningrad in four places. The Germans report an advance to a point 45 miles east of Minsk. Yesterday they claimed an advance a good deal further than that. The Russians report heavy fighting in the Bobruisk area all last night and it is evident that the German penetration in the Minsk district is not limited to a spearhead towards Moscow. The Germans say that the Russian armies isolated in the Minsk area are making desperate efforts to escape from encirclement. In Rumania the Germans say that Rumanian troops have dispersed Russian tanks from an important bridgehead on the Pruth. The Russians, however, state that another enemy attempt to cross the river was flung back with heavy loss. The sinking of seven U-boats in the Baltic and the Black Sea is claimed by the Russians.