SOVIET CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1941, Page 5

SOVIET CLAIMS

ENEMY DIVISIONS DESTROYED

ARMOURED CORPS SMASHED.

GERMANS REPORT HEADWAY

IN UKRAINE.

. LONDON, July 27. A Moscow communique states. "7here was stubborn fighting yesterday in the Porkhiv, Neva!, Smolensk and Jitomir sectors. No important changes occurred. We destroyed two German infantry divisions in the Smolensk sector. Several German planes approached Moscow yesterday morning and

our fighters scattered them, des-

troying three.”

In yesterday's Soviet communique it was stated that Russian troops in the Smolensk area on July 25 annihilated an infantry division which had recently arrived and which took part in a big enemy offensive. Last night Moscow announced that the Bth German Armoured Division had been smashed after three days and nights of fierce fighting, during which German tanks were successfully ambushed. The enemy counter-attacked after artillery preparation, but were met by terrific fire from the Russian troops, and were forced to flee while the Russians followed up with a new counter-attack. After three days’ fighting the Germans abandoned, a town which had been occupied, leaving much of their material behind. • . , . A German communique claims local resistance by enemy rearguards in the Ukraine has been broken and the allied troops continue the pursuit of the defeated enemy in spite of unfavourable weather and difficult loads. Mopping-up by Rumanian units m Bessarabia is nearly completed. Communications have been re-established in Bessarabia and the Government is arranging the return of refugees. “Attacks by strong, fresh Russian forces west and south-west of Vysama (a town 90 miles east of Smolensk) failed, with heavy enemy losses.” A “Times” correspondent on the German frontier says that the Russians are apparently not having the least difficulty about equipment. They have just sprung an unpleasant surprise for the Germans on the southern front by introducing a new ultra-modern fighter, the M.1.K..101.