AT STAKE IN SMOLENSK BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1941, Page 5

AT STAKE IN SMOLENSK BATTLE

Unabated Fury of Conflid POSITION OBSCURE IN DETAILS BUT RUSSIANS STILL BARRING ROAD TO MOSCOW LONDON, July 31. One of the fiercest battles in history continues to rage with unabated fury in the Smolensk area. In spite off the; sacrifice of thousands of soldiers, a vast number of aeroplanes and tank, and some of their crack divisions, the Germans clearly ha Sm ” carry out their plans to march ‘o Moscow. Fightrng . with unrelenting tenacity, Russian troops stlll b ‘ ’ The position remains obscure. Berlin asserts ihat the - circlement of Russian troops has been drawn clo ® er ’ I® known that Smolensk is still in Russian hands In London it is stated that some of the Russian troops may be> bu /may still be fighting as self-contained units. It is felt in Londe .Cat the future course of the war on the Russian fron wil depend to a great extent on the outcome of the battle of Smolensk. It is a question as to whether the Germans can employ enough new troops to break the Russian resistance Russians will be able to hold them and counterattack with such force as to win the battle by exhausting the enem Berlin claims that the German troops have made progress in Estonia, where the Russians are still resisting Sighting continues in the Ukraine. Berlin says German troops have made a deep penetration into the Russian lines. A Moscow communique says the Russian Air Force has struck further blows against enemy mechanised forces and artillery. Three attempts by the enemy to attack Leningrad were driven off and an attempt to raid the capital last night completely failed.