AFTER THIRTEEN DAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 July 1941, Page 6

AFTER THIRTEEN DAYS

MAIN SOVIET AND GERMAN ARMIES SAID TO BE AT GRIPS Nazis Aware of Enormous Task BOTH SIDES REPORT INFLICTING HEAVY LOSSES LONDON VIEW OF RUSSIAN PROJECTS (By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 4. After thirteen days of fighting-, the main Russian and German armies are now believed to be at grips. As the real struggle of these gigantic forces begins, there are indications that Germany is realising that she has a greater task on hethands than her military machine ever had to face before. Reports from the front are still confused, but authoritative quarters in London, while exercising caution, are inclined to confidence that Russia will be able to hold up the German war machine. Today’s Russian communique says: “Fighting continued last night at Dvinsk, Bobruisk, Rovno and Tarnopol, and local fighting and patrol activity in other sectors. Our troops in the Dvinsk sector are moving into new positions and successfully checking the'advance of the enemy forward tank units. Our troops in the Bobruisk sector, where a battle is progressing, are strongly supported by artillery and our Air Force is inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.. Stubborn fighting continues near , Rovno and Tarnopol, checking the enemy’s advance in an easterly direction. Our Air Force is hammering enemy mobile units.” A German communique says: “The pursuit of the Soviet forces is proceeding without a pause along the front, and the retreating enemy is suffering heavy losses from ruthless attacks.” The Berlin News Agency says Hungarian troops, advancingover the Carpathians, have reached the plain beyond and joined up with the right wing of the Germay Army in Eastern Poland.