NAZI DISAPPOINTMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1941, Page 5

NAZI DISAPPOINTMENT

OVER PROGRESS IN RUSSIA Admissions of Astounding Strength of Resistance AND DEVASTATION OF EVACUATED AREAS SOVIET REPORTS DISPROPORTIONATE ENEMY AIR LOSSES LONDON, July 9. The only development on the Eastern battlefront is the capture, claimed by the Germans, of three widely-sepaiated towns —one on the waistline of Finland recently taken by Russia, another a port in Estonia and the third 12 miles northeast from the Latvian border. The news of these claims represents no considerable advance beyond the enemy’s previous positions. Messages from Berlin and other enemy sources indicate that the Germans are disappointed with the progress being made on the Eastern front. The Germans have been at pains to explain the extreme reticence of their latest communique, stating that the Russians must not be told where they were being attacked, as it would help them in the defence of the Stalin Line. The advance of 190 to 200 miles which is claimed by the Germans is less than the ordinary German citizen had been led to expect. A message from Stockholm states that the Germans admit that the Russian pockets of resistance west of Minsk have not yet been liquidated, though their annihilation was promised ten days ago. The Russian resistance has astounded well-informed circles in Berlin. The Germans refer to the insensate destruction by the Russians of everything in the districts from which they retreat. They state that it is comparable to the desolation left by a plague of locusts. A bogus free radio station is urging the Russian people not to destroy their crops, food and equipment. A Russian communique speaks of heavy German pressure at several points on the front. In some places the Soviet forces have made successful counter-attacks. The Russians claim to have destroyed 62 enemy planes last night for the loss of seven Russian machines and 102 enemy planes yesterday compared with ten Russian. It is reported that the Black Sea port of Constanta no longer exists. A message from Istanbul states that travellers arriving there from Rumania report that all available Axis shipping has been moved to Bulgarian ports.