RIVAL CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1941, Page 6

RIVAL CLAIMS

RUSSIANS REPORT LOCAL SUCCESS NAZI OPERATIONS EAST > OF DNIEPER. TRAP ALLEGEDLY CLOSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) . (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. According to the “Red Star” the Russians in a three-day battle at Trubchevsk killed 2,500 Germans and drove the enemy out of a forest, smashing three German headquarters. The Germans claim that General Bock’s forces swept into Marshal Timoshenko’s forces, cutting off large sections of them and joining up with General Rundstedt’s forces, which crossed the Dnieper below Kiev. The claim, if true, means that a vast area eastward of Kiev is encircled, trapping a quarter of a million of Marshal Timoshenko’s forces. A German communique says the concentric offensive operations of Generals Rundstedt and Bock have resulted in a new and vast outflanking battle. After the Gomel battle, strong German forces advanced against the upper and lower course of the Desna River and thence southwards, with the object of linking up with forces which cressed the Dnieper near Kremenchug, and attacked northwards. The union of these forces was effected on September 13, 125 miles eastwards of Kiev. The ring has thus been closed around four Russian armies whose annihilation is progressing. j NAZI ACCOUNT OF RELATIVE LOSSES IN RUSSIA. (Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. A communique gives the German losses between June 22 and August 31 as 84,354 dead, 292,690 wounded and 1378 missing. The Germans, it is claimed, have taken prisoner 1,800,000 Russians and the number of Russian dead is probably higher. FINNS TAKE TOWN i NINETY MILES BEYOND FRONTIER. ACCORDING TO ITALIAN AGENCY. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. The Stefani News Agency reports that the Finns have occupied Rukajervi, 90 miles from the former Rus-sian-Finnish frontier, after fierce fighting.