RAIN REPORTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1941, Page 5

RAIN REPORTED

IN WESTERN RUSSIA MAY PROFOUNDLY AFFECT e CAMPAIGN. CREATION OF QUAGMIRES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. What may prove news of first importance is contained in a brief message from the 'Associated Press of Great Britain’s Moscow correspondent which reads: “Rain is falling over the battlefields in Western Russia, threatening to turn into a vast bog the territory churned up by Hitler’s blitzkrieg vehicles.”

AXIS CLAIM

CAPTURE OF POSITIONS IN BESSARABIA. (Received This Day. 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. A German-Rumanian communique claims that strategic key positions in Bessarabia have been captured. Hotin, Soroca and Orheiu have been occupied besides Kishenev. POLITICAL COMMISSARS SYSTEM RE-ESTABLISHED IN RED ARMY. LONDON, July 17. It was announced in Moscow that political commissars are being reintroduced in the Red Army. A decree states: “The war has radically changed the conditions of political work in the Red Army and it has made the duties of the regimental divisional commanders more complex, demanding

the full assistance of the political workers. “Next to the commanding officers they will be responsible for the conduct of military operations and for the behaviour of the troops. They must give full assistance to the commanding officers. “The political workers must set a personal example, inspire the units in the fight, carry on a ruthless struggle against cowards and panic-mongers, and cut all treason at the very roots. “The commanding officer is the head of the regiment. The commissar is its father and soul.”