SLOWING DOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 July 1941, Page 6

SLOWING DOWN

AT LEAST TEMPORARILY The German Blitzkrieg in Russia MASSES OF GIANT TANKS THROWN IN BY DEFENDERS ABANDONED TOWNS AND VILLAGES LEFT IN ASHES (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 8. The latest reports from the Russian front indicate that the German blitzkrieg is slowing down, at least temporarily. 10-., day’s German communique merely says operations are proceeding according to plan, whereas the Russians report successful defence, or counter-attacks, on all fronts. Commentators conclude that the comparative lull on the central front is preparatory to a German large-scale attack on Smolensk by means of a. pincers movement through Lepel and Bobruisk. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says the Germans have paid a high price in men and materials, and precious time, for a mere approach to the Stalin Line. The Berlin radio, however, claims that the Germans have pierced the line at several points. A semi-official Berlin commentary refers to spearheads reaching the Stalin Line and warns the German people that the operations are now entering on a phase in which violent fighting must be expected. The Moscow radio says many Finns are deserting to the Russians. It also broadcast to Germany a list of names of Germans who have gone over to the Russians and appealed to German soldiers to follow this example. The fiercest fighting at present is occurring west of Ostrov, a keypoint on the Leningrad Road, where the Russians have flung in masses of giant tanks, of 85 to 90 tons, with armour as thick as that of battleships. The battle raged in moonlight on Sunday night and was still going on yesterday afternoon. Nazi attempts to drive a spearhead between Ostrov and Novgorod, and cut off the Russians in Northern Estonia, has so far been defeated. Another huge tank battle is raging south of Polotsk, where the German infantry are suffering their heaviest losses so far. They attempted to cross the Dvina River, but Russian machinegunners raked their collapsible boats. 1 The Germans are progressing only in south-eastern Estonia and even here the Russians have laid waste the land and it is certain that wherever the Germans advance they will find only scorched earth. The German News Agency admits that Minsk was a smoking ruin when the troops entered. Neutral journalists who visited Lwow (Lemberg) testify to the great destruction of property and equipment. Libau was reduced to ashes before the Germans entered. Every town and village the invaders enter is a blackened mass of ruins.

HEAVY FIGHTING

SOVIET GIVES DETAILS ENEMY LOSSES IN MEN & MATERIAL. / AXIS DEFEAT ON PRUTH.(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. A Russian communique states:. “Operations which developed yesterday in the regions of Ostrov, Polotsk, Lepel, Bobruisk. Novograd-Volynak, Monilev, Podolsk and the Ukraine continued with undiminished force during the night. Our troops in the region of Ostrov made a determined resistance, checking the enemy’s advance. Intense and stubborn fighting continues in the region of Polotsk. Our units in the Bobruisk region destroyed 35 heavy

tanks and two battalions of infantry. All enemy attempts to force the Dneiper were frustrated, with heavy enemy losses. There was intense fighting in the region of Novograd-Volynsk against tanks, motorised and mechanised forces. Our troops further south counter-attacked the enemy on his flank and in the rear and wiped out two infantry regiments. Our troops in the regions of Mohilev, Podolsk and the Ukraine are fighting stubbornly, with the enemy attempting to break through to the Dniester, annihilating the enemy group by group in this region. “As a result of a Soviet counter-at-tack in the Bessarabian sector, part of the Rumanian and German troops were destroyed and thrown back from Soviet territory.” A Rumanian communique says: “All Russians Jiove been cleared from the Bukovina region. Our pursuit of the enemy continues in Bessarabia and fighting is in progress on the lower reaches of the River Pruth and in the Danube Delta.”