DEEP IN TROUBLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1941, Page 5

DEEP IN TROUBLE

ITALIANS IN UKRAINE

MOURNFUL ACCOUNT GIVEN BY CORRESPONDENTS.

ATTACKS IN FLANK & REAR.

(Received This Dav, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON. August 22. The first reports from Italian war correspondents in. the Ukraine reaching Milan refer to “the unbelievedly hard conditions under

which the Italian troops are suffering.”

The correspondent of the “Corrierc Della Sera” says: “Things become worse the deeper we penetrate the limitless space of Russia, which swallows cur troops. Our tanks have the speed of snails and our men march day and night. Motoring is most difficult and the condition of the roads is indescribable. The enemy applies Cossack tactics, retreating and then, suddenly appearing in the rear, or attacking on both flanks of our forces.” TRANSPORT FLEET ROUTED BY SOVIET BOMBERS OFF THE RUMANIAN COAST. AT LEAST TWO SHIPS SUNK. (Received his Day, 10.55 a.m.) MOSCOW, August 22. The Tass Agency announced that Soviet bombers routed a fleet of Nazi transports carrying reinforcements for the Ukraine, off ,'the Rumanian coast. At least two ships were sunk, one was set on fire and others were damaged. RED ARMY VALIANT AND EFFICIENT HIGH BRITISH OFFICER'S IMPRESSIONS. ATTACK SEEN ON CENTRAL FRONT.

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This’ Day, 9.25 a.m.) RUGBY, August 22. Some details of the recent visit of the chief of the British Military Mission in Moscow to the GermanSoviet front have been 'Officially given in London. Lieutenant-Gen-, eral MacFarlane went to the Smolensk sector, where he saw a Soviet division carry out a successful attack.

He reports that he was much impressed by the high morale and efficiency of the Red Army. Co-operation between the Air Force and the Army was extremely good and General MacFarlane states that the battlefield was quickly and methodically cleared of casualties and material. Within 24 hours cf the attack most of the German dead had already been buried. As he was about to return, it came on to rain and the roads quickly became mud. forcing General MacFarlane to spend a night in a forest. NAZI BATTLESHIP REPORTED COMPLETION OF TIRPITZ SISTER TQ DESTROYED BISMARCK. NOW UNDERGOING TRIALS IN BALTIC. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 22. It is reported in London that the 35,000-ton German battleship Tirpitz, a sister ship of the Bismarck, which was sunk recently by the British Navy in the North Atlantic, has been completed and is undergoing trials in the Baltic Sea. ACROSS THE DNIEPER BULK OF BUDENNY’S ARMY. ACCORDING TO REPORTS REACHING ANKARA. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. Reports are reaching Ankara, in most confident terms, to the effect that the bulk of Marshal Budenny’s army is safely across the Dnieper. RUMANIAN HALT URGED BY PEASANT LEADER. GENERAL ANTONESCU’S REPLY. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. According to Ankara reports, M. Maniu, the Rumanian peasant leader, hak sent a letter to General Antonescu, urging Rumania to call off the war against the Soviet, now that Bessarabia and Bukovina have been recovered. General .Antonescu replied: “There are Rumanians as far as the Dnieper who must be liberated.”

HITLER RIGHT IN MODEST EXPECTATIONS IN RUSSIA. ACCORDING TO S.S. ORGAN. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 22. A Zurich correspondent sends extracts from the “Schwarz Korps,” the organ of the S.S., confessing that “when Hitler attacked Russia innumerable optimists, within and without Germany, thought the war would be won at blitzkrieg speed and were certain Russia would be conquered sooner than France.” The paper declares that Hitler did not indulge in these high hopes and has “again been proved right.”