Untitled

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1941, Page 6

THE BATTLE FOR LENINGRAD

Russians Stiffening Defences AGAINST INCREASING ENEMY EFFORTS NAZIS BEATEN BACK ON SEA APPROACHES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, September 17. According to the latest reports from Moscow, the Battle for Leningrad is growing in intensity, with the Germans increasing their pressure and the Russians stiffening their defences on land and sea and in the air. Reports describe the recapture by the Red Army of a village on crossroads leading to Leningrad. The battle was fierce in character, as the Germans had planned to launch a powerful new thrust from the village. Naval artillery gave support to the land forces, who stormed the enemy positions with no regard for themselves. The village was recaptured after very heavy losses had been inflicted on the Nazis. “ The enemy is reported to be hurling in new forces and to be concentrating vast curtains of fire in order to break the resistance of the defenders.. A battle is also reported to be taking place on the distant sea approach to Leningrad, where Germans repeatedly attempted to capture Oesel and othei’ islands controlling Riga Bay and the southern entrance to the Gulf of Finland. After a four-hour battle last Saturday, the Russians sank four to six enemy transports, one destroyer, ten cutters and many smaller ships. The other ships comprising the raiding fleet fled. Parachutists were used in another unsuccessful attack.