IN THE RUSSIAN DEFENCE OF LENINGRAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1941, Page 5

IN THE RUSSIAN DEFENCE OF LENINGRAD

Advanced Enemy Units Driven Back THREE HUNDRED GERMAN PLANES DESTROYED IN PAST FEW DAYS RED AIR FORCE SUCCESSES IN OTHER AREAS LONDON, September 7. At the beginning’ of the twelfth week of Hitler’s war against Russia, Germany has still failed to gain any of her first three objectives—Moscow, Kiev and Leningrad. The Russian armies are intact and are fighting back strongly along the whole front. Leningrad’s defences for ten days have stood up against the Germans’ most furious onslaughts. There is no confirmation of the enemy’s repeated claims that the city is under artillery fire. The Russians have counter-attacked at several places and driven back the most advanced German units. The Germans admit that Leningrad’s communications with the rest of Russia are still open. The Germans claim to have hurled hundreds of bombers and dive-bombers against Leningrad throughout yesterday. One Russian report says that in the past few days over 300 German planes have been destroyed. Germany is said to be throwing against the Russians almost the whole of her air forces. Two successful Russian air attacks are reported on German airports in the Ukraine. Russian dive-bombers in the central sector destroyed German bridgeheads. The Russians claim a number of local successes and the recapture of several more villages in the same sector. North-east of Leningrad, the Finns claim to have advanced 45 miles and to have reached the River Soir, connecting Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga.