STRUCK BY THE RUSSIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1941, Page 5

STRUCK BY THE RUSSIANS

On Central Part of Eastern Front VIGOROUS COUNTER-ATTACKS LAUNCHED IN LENINGRAD AREA DEFENSIVE STAND BY SOVIET ARMIES EAST OF KIEV LONDON, September 22. In the central sector of the Eastern front the Russians are hammering’ the German defences harder than ever. After a week’s terrific fighting, the Russians south-east of Smolensk have recaptured a German defensive zone and 32 villages. In the Elnya area, the Russians claim to have pushed back the Germans a distance of 20 miles and to have badly mauled several divisions. At a point 35 miles north-east of Smolensk the Russians are reported to have regained from six to ten miles of territory along a 60-mile salient and to have destroyed oi crippled ten German divisions. The Germans were driven out by a brilliant Russian pincer drive and abandoned strong positions and masses of equipment. It is stated that Smolensk remains in German hands, but the Russians are closing m on the city. x ~ It is admitted by a German military commentator on the Berlin radio that the Russian attacks were very heavy. He also admitted that Russian forces were counter-attacking m the Leningrad sector. Moscow reports that the defenders of Leningrad are definitely carrying the fight to the enemy. Artillery is shelling the German positions and naval guns of the Russian fleet are shelling the enemy flank. The fight for the island of Osel, on the approaches to Leningrad, is still raging and the Russians are hitting back hard. , The position at Kiev is still obscure. The Russian forces inside the pocket of resistance east of Kiev are still attacking ferociously. One report states that most of the Russian armies east of Kiev have been withdrawn and have escaped encirclement. The Soviet High Command evidently hopes to establish a new defence line. . At Odessa, the Russians report an improvement of their positions. ALLIED DELEGATES AT MOSCOW The Moscow radio announces that the British and American delegates to the Moscow Three-Power Conference to consider aid for Russia arrived on Soviet territory today by air. BRITISH TANKS FOR RUSSIA Reports from all factories in Britain engaged in the production of tanks for Russia indicate that a new record step up in production is likely this week. The Russian Ambassador, M. Maisky, who saw the first tank leave a factory today for immediate despatch to Russia, told workers that every one of these tanks would go into battle as soon as it arrived in Russia.