VIOLENT FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1941, Page 5

VIOLENT FIGHTING

CONTINUING AROUND SMOLENSK

TOWN EVACUATED SOME DAYS AGO.

NAZI CLAIMS & ADMISSIONS

LONDON. August 14. A Russian communique states that Smolensk was evacuated some ' days ago. A high German commander who participated in the capture of Smolensk, who has arrived at Berlin, related that while the Germans were advancing to Smolensk the Russians did not destroy the bridges, evidently expecting to be able to counter-attack successfully, whereas on the approaches to.the Dneiper line all the bridges, even the smallest, were dynamited, suggesting that the Russians had abandoned hope of driving the Germans back.

He admitted that the fighting round Smolensk was still particularly violent, because the Russians were numerically stronger. “But the Germans are gradually winning, thanks to their superior arms and intelligence,' he said.

"The Times” correspondent comments that whatever the exact worth of this voluntary communication the essential point is that the termination of the Smolensk fighting, which the Germans noisily proclaimed over a week ago, is still far distant, while Kiev at the moment does not appear to be seriously threatened, because the German thrust has been 'diverted southward.

Rome reports the death of the first Italian soldier on the Russian front.