HEAVIEST OF THE WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1941, Page 6

HEAVIEST OF THE WAR

GERMAN LOSSES IN RUSSIA

Thousands of Dead in Minsk Area / ISOLATED SOVIET TROOPS FIGHTING DESPERATELY IN FORESTS NAZI MILITARY AUTHORITIES ASTONISHED AT DIFFICULTIES (By Telegraph. —Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, July. 9. It is believed in London that the Russians are inflicting the most heavy punishment the Germans have suffered so far during' the war. Neutral correspondents in Russia report that in the Minsk area there are thousands of German dead. A spec: correspondent of the Stockholm “Tidningen reports that in the Minsk sector thousands of Soviet soldiers, hiuaen in th forests, are continuing to resist desperately. The difficulty ot breaking the Soviet resistance in this sector is causing astonishment to the German military authorities and (he German, are preparing the public for heavy losses. Prisoners taken by the Russians in the central sector admitted that they had recently been brought from the estern front to take part in the Russian offensive.

GERMAN CLAIMS

MABE IN NEWS AGENCY MESSAGE COMMUNIQUES STILL VERY RETICENT. FAMINE THREAT IN AREAS EVACUATED. (Received This Day. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, July 9. In German communiques the only reference made to the Russo-German war is: ‘‘Fighting is progressing satisfactorily on the entire Eastern front.

The Berlin News Agency, however, says: "We frustrated Russian attempts to penetrate the new defences in Estonia. The Germans have occupied Ostrov, Fellin and Parnu. German and Rumanian units repulsed strong Russian armoured units in a counter-attack on the Bessaiabian front. We pushed back the enemy and made a considerable territorial gain.” It is reported from Helsinki that Soviet planes heavily raided Helsinki early this morning, causing many fires and severe damage. Many streets are blocked by wreckage. A Zurich message reports that Hungarian troops occupying Eastern Galacia found the greatest destruction in all districts the Russians had evacuated. All foodstuffs were destroyed and the population is facing famine.