ENEMY CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1941, Page 5

ENEMY CLAIMS

TREATED WITH RESERVE IN LONDON BUT FIGHTING INTENSIFIED. IN THE PAST 36 HOURS. LONDON, August 10. The German claims of a spectacular victory in the Ukraine are treated with reserve in London in the absence of a Russian version of the fighting. Both Russian and German sources agree that the fighting has been intensified in the past 36 hours. No confirmation of Berlin’s latest claims of successes in the southern and central sectors is contained in the Russian night communique. Similarly no light is thrown on Helsinki’s claim that a second great offensive is beginning north-east of Lake Ladoga. Reuter’s special correspondent in Moscow says the sober tone of the Soviet communiques and their mentioning of principal place-names have created a good impression on foreign observers. Greater weight is attached to the Soviet “balance-sheet” than to the German claims, which have so frequently proved extravagant and, if half true, make the continuation of the Soviet resistance inexplicable. Observers are impressed with the candid Russian admission of losses which is regarded as a sigh of strength. Nevertheless, the threat to Odessa remains, and the Rome radio has given what may be accepted as a plausible explanation of German strategy. This said that the German attack north-east of Kiev provoked Marshal Budenny to counter-attack with all his tanks, thus weakening the defences on the Dneister. This enabled German, Rumanian and Hungarian troops to break through and threaten the rear of the Russian left wing. If this is true, it would account for some of the Russian difficulties in the Uman area. The Soviet Information Bureau reports that guerillas ambushed and routed a German infantry regiment. The Germans lost 450 killed and wounded 12 lorries. 21 machine-guns pnd hundreds of automatic rifles. Soviet warships going into action in support of troops on the Baltic front bombarded and destroyed a large concentration of Germans. • ■ A German High Command special communique claiming a first great success in the Ukraine says; “The Sixth, Twelfth and part of the Eighteenth Soviet Armies, totalling 25 divisions, were destroyed and 103,000 prisoners, including the commanders of the Sixth 5 and Twelfth Armies, fell into our hands and also 317 tanks, 858 guns and vast quantities of war material. The enemy suffered heavy and bloody losses amounting so far to more than 200,000. German forces captured Korost after several days battle in the dense forests and marshlands. Soviet forces were encircled 60 miles south-east of Smolensk and annihilated, 28,000 prisoners being taken and 250 tanks and armoured cars and 359 guns captured. The German forces in Estonia captured Turi, an important road and railway junction.” The Moscow Army journal, “Red Star,” reports that heavy losses were inflicted on a further six German tank division/ and four infantry divisions on the western front. Intercepted German messages showed losses of from 20 to 40 per cent in some divisions. MUTUAL HELP RUSSIA & THE ALLIES. • BRITISH LABOUR MEMBER'S SUGGESTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 9. Addressing his constituents Mr Shinwell, Labour member- of the House of Commons for Seaham, said there was not the least doubt about the setbacks encountered by the Germans in Russia. “These may prove of greater assistance to our cause than anything received from all other sources since the war began,” he said. Mr Shinwell asked that the pledge to aid Russia be fulfilled, whether by persistent attacks, or a diversion on the Western Front, or by an attack on Italy. Referring to recent ' criticism of the Government in the House of Commons, Mr Shinwell said this was designed rather to give strength to the Prime Minister than to weaken him. “It is folly to ignore the considerable and growing criticism of the Government’s policy, which is not so much directed against Mr Churchill as against the personnel and organisations of the Government as a whole,” he added.