LONDON COMMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1941, Page 6

LONDON COMMENT

MARSHAL TIMOSHENKO’S SUCCESS MAY AFFECT POSITION FURTHER SOUTH. MENACE TO LENINGRAD CONTINUES. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 9. Developments discernible on the Russian front since the weekend show little change in Marshal Budenny’s sector, along the Dnieper southwards of Kiev, improvements in Marshal Timoshenko's central position, mainly defending Moscow’s distant approaches and some deterioration in Marshal Voroshilov’s position around Leningrad. Although the situation in the Leningrad sector holds the most serious possibilities for the Russians, Marshal Timoshenko’s success in the Yelnia area at the moment “holds the stage.” The Germans themselves optimistically reported on heavy fighting in the Yelnia region at the end of August and the Russian success can be regarded as of very great local importance, although nothing at present indicates that it is more than local. It is, however, the most important Russian success since Marshal Timoshenko halted the Germans between Smolensk and Viazma, and so far constitutes the highest development of the Russian offensive southward of Smolensk, which began last month. The setback at Yelnia is bound considerably to affect the German position in the Gomel area, because it will compel a further diversion of reserves from the operations against the Russians who are threatening to pin the Germans against, or drive them into, the Pripet Marshes, by advancing along the Iput Valley.