GERMAN CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1941, Page 5

GERMAN CLAIMS

ALLEGED CAPTURE OF PRISONERS. NEAR APPROACH TO LENINGRAD DENIED. LONDON July 29. The Berlin news agency stated that the destruction of the Russians in the Mohilev area proceeded rapidly yesterday, when the Germans took prisoner a further 23,000 men, making a total of 35,000. Axis claims that Finnish troops, by making a wide detour, have reached the suburbs of Leningrad are replied to by the Berlin correspondent of the Swiss “Neue Zuercher Zeitung,” who says that the German and Finnish forces are still at least 90 miles from Leningrad. He says that the Germans' in the Lake Peipus (Peipsi) sector to the south have been forced to withdraw at one point.

RUMANIAN SHIPS

MOBILISED BY NAZIS.

FOR SERVICE TO ITALY.

LONDON. July 29.

The Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that Germany has mobilised the Rumanian merchant fleet to circumvent ' the British blockade from the mouth of the Dardanelles to the Corinth Canal and thence to Italy. The recent sinkings of Italian ships on this route have been heavy, and for this reason it has been decided to use Rumanian merchantmen which have been lying idle in Istanbul harbour since June 20. Two 6000-ton vessels are loading for Italy, in spite of a lack of enthusiasm among the Rumanian crews.

The action sets a problem for theBritish Navy for dealing with Bulgarian and Rumanian ships carrying essential supplies for the Axis but flying neutral flags.

SOVIET REPORT

NO IMPORTANT CHANGE.

(Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) MOSCOW, July 29.

A communique states: “Our troops have continued fighting in the Neval, l Smolensk and Jitomir sectors. There is j nothing of importance to report in other sectors.”