SIGNS OF GERMAN PREPARATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1941, Page 5

SIGNS OF GERMAN PREPARATION

Savage Fighting on Whole Eastern Front IN SPITE OF HEAVY RAIN RUSSIAN AIR ACTIVITIES INTENSIFIED LONDON', September 25. In spite of heavy rain which is falling on the entire Russian battlefront, savage fighting continues on all the main sectors. , , It is believed in London that the Germans are developing an attack on the Crimea from bases on the banks of the Dnieper. Their troops may number four divisions or roughly about 70,000 men. They must first smash their way across a narrow isthmus. Odessa seems to be standing up to bombing and, shelling by the Germans. Marines and aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet are taking a big part in the defence of the city. The position in the Ukraine is still obscure. The Germans claim, the destruction of encircled Russian troops, who are making desperate attempts to break through. These attempts, the Germans say, have been repulsed with heavy losses. There is little fresh news regarding operations in the central sector since a reporu that Marshal Timoshenko’s forces had pushed forward to within 25 miles of Smolensk. Regarding the northern end of the front, the Geimans have not repeated their claims of last night to have penetrated the suburbs of Leningrad and to have pierced the city’s air defences. The Leningrad defenders are counter-attacking at various points. The Germans describe scattered battles m villages on the approaches to the city. The Russian Air Force has intensified its attacks on enemy troops and bases. It is stated that not a single German plane was able to get through Moscow’s defences last night, when Russian night fighters shot down five German bombers. The R.A.F. has escorted Russian aircraft in several bombing attacks.