STILL RAGING FIERCELY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1941, Page 5

STILL RAGING FIERCELY

Germans Hurled Back According to Russians MR CHURCHILL APPLAUDS SOVIET-POLISH AGREEMENT MR HARRY HOPKINS VISITING MOSCOW LONDON.. July,3o. _ The battle of Smolensk is still the centre of fierce fighting. The Russians have announced the launching of a series of counter-attacks in this vital sector and state that the Germans have been hurled back with heavy loss. Today’s German communique also speaks of heavy fighting in the unolensK area It admits the Russian counter-attacks, but says, of course, that they were repelled. Elsewhere, the Germans say operations are going according to plan. Further south, in the Ukraine, the Russians report heavy fighting. In the north the Axis speaks of further progress round Leningrad, but a statement that German and Finnish troops have penetrated the streets of Leningrad is dismissed by Moscow as propaganda. Guerrilla warfare by Russians behind the German lines is said to be increasingly effective. In addition to Russians and Poles, Lithuanians are now helping to harass the enemy. rhe Russian Air Force continues to co-operate with the land forces and further blows against enemy mechanised troops, infantry and artillery are reported. . . The German radio claims that Moscow was again raiaed last night, but so far there is no confirmation of this report. The agreement between Russia and Poland was described by Mr Churchill, speaking in the House of Commons, as a memorable epjisode marking the association of two historic nations in the defence of human rights. Mr Eden said full aid and support was to be given by Lie two countries and a Polish army, under a Polish commander, was to be set up in Russia. M. Stalin has received Mr Harry Hopkins m Moscow. Ihe reason for Mr Hopkins’s visit to Russia has been given by Mr -Sumner Welles, United States Assistant Secretary of State. Mr Welles said Mr Hopkins is to discuss the expediting of war materials to Russia. It was not, however, connected with the Lease and Lend Act and his visit was comparable to that of the Russian mission to the United States. The House of Commons was told today that much progress had been made in fulfilling Britain’s promise of economic assistance to Russia. A considerable quantity of goods had been dispatched to Russia from various parts of the Empire. Russia was making available supplies of valuable material in furtherance of the common war effort.