ALONG WHOLE EASTERN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1941, Page 5

ALONG WHOLE EASTERN FRONT

Further Success Gained by Russians in Centre GERMANS PREPARING NEW BUTZ AGAINST CRIMEA MEETING OF ALLIED MISSIONS IN MOSCOW LONDON, September 29. The importance of speed in aid to Russia was emphasised at today’s meeting of the Three Power Conference in Moscow. M. Molotov, Soviet Foreign Minister, presided. A number of committees were appointed to report when the conference meets again on Thursday. Last night, M. Stalin had a threehour talk with Lord Beaverbrook and Mr Averell Harriman, leaders of the British and American missions. The Tass Agency reports a new big success for Marshal Timoshenko’s forces in the central sector in a battle fought near Bryansk, 140 miles south-east of Smolensk. It seems that Bryansk, although its capture was claimed by the Germans, has never been entered by Nazi troops except' as prisoners. Large German forces have not only been repulsed but driven back in full retreat over ground that has become a veritable graveyard for German tanks and tank crews. Two villages have been recaptured by the Russians. In one of them, the Germans left 300 dead. The Russian attack opened with a terrific artillery bombardment, which started large fires at points where enemy troops were concentrated. Another success is reported somewhere in the Ukraine. Berlin reports that Russian troops launched an attack in numbers greatly superior to ohe Germans, who claim, however, as usual, that the attacks were repulsed after fierce tank fighting. The Russians state that two Rumanian brigades were destroyed. Although no official news is given of operations on other parts of the front it is known that fighting is raging fiercely everywhere. It is particularly savage on the approaches to the Crimea. The Germans seem to be determined that the Crimea shall not remain a thorn in their side on their drive along the Black Sea coast. They are believed to have concentrated a great number of troops in this area. Both Moscow and Berlin believe a new blitz is to be commenced soon against the peninsula. A communique from Moscow states that in the course of today Russian forces continue to fight the enemy stubbornly along the whole front. On Friday, 113 German planes are known to have been destroyed and not 98 as announced previously. On Saturday, 150 enemy planes were destroyed, 37 in air combats and 113 on aerodromes. The Russians lost 28 planes.