THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 27, 1941.
HITLER DEVELOPING FOUR MAIN THRUSTS
SCHEER
POPPY COCK
A German High Com- mand communique claims that the German pocket- battleship Admiral Scheer has returned to a German base after "long and suc- cessful operations in the north and south Atlan. tic."
as
The communique says that previously announced the Scheer has sunk altogether 152,000 tons. including a
of complete convoy 86,000 tons.
Loss of the German auxillary
cruiser Pinguin in the Indian Ocean in a fight with the British
cruiser Cornwall is admitted,
IN LONDON. AUTHORITA TIVE COMMENT ON THE
Following Napoleonic Route
(By Reuter's Military Commentator)
ALTHOUGH THE GERMAŃ ATTACK ON RUSSIA IS LESS THAN A WEEK OLD AND THE NEWS, APART FROM OFFICIAL COM- MUNIQUES, IS VERY SCARCE, IT IS AL- READY POSSIBLE TO FORM SOME IDEA OF THE GERMAN LINES OF ATTACK.
Judging by news to hand and the topo- graphy of the country, the Germans may be expected to attack in four directions to the east of the Baltic, in addition to a direct attack on Leningrad from Finland across the Karelian Isthmus.
CLAIMS REGARDING THE
Two main attacks at present are SCHEER, WAS: VAS A RESULT
Baltic IS developing through the OF RECONNAISSANCE IT KNOWN THAT THE SCHEER States and North Poland, the HAS BEEN IN HARBOUR SINCE} former with Leningrad and the THE MIDDLE OF APRIL." latter with Moscow as the main REUTER.
REST FOR AUSSIES
objectives.
The other two thrusts may be
Here the Russians can afford to give agmo ground as they have a strong line of defence Boylet-German along the old frontier, and along the old Russo-Polish border.
They may be expected to put
IRAN
DECLARES NEUTRALITY
Iran has informed Russia of its intention to remain neutral in the latest phase of the world war, says Mos- cow radio.
A verbal communi- cation to this effect was made yesterday by the Iranian Am- bassador in Moscow. -Reuter.
R.A.F.'s Big
Offensive
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
ITALIAN AIR LOSSES AT MALTA
Three Italian Macchi 200's were shot into the sea and a Savoia 79 seri- ously damaged over Mal- ta on Wednesday, says an R.A.F. Middle East com- munique.
No British machines were lost in this action.
In Cyrenaica, R.A.F. bombers raided the landing ground at a number of Gazala, damaging enemy aircraft.
Bombs were dropped on ship- ping in Benghazi during the night of June 24/25, a number of fires being started near the moles.
car- Protective patrols were ried out over the Allied troops in Syria, and Austrálian fighters Intercepted and phot dow.n
three Poter 63 fighters and damaged othura.
Enemy aircraft raided Damas- cus on Wednesday and caused a number of civilian casualties.
Minor raids on Haifa and Acre the previous day caused little damage.
One Allied aircraft is missing
The R.A.F. yesterday from these operations.-Reuter.
expected on Kiev and Odessa. A up very fierce resistance once the was credited with bagging
movement has already started to, Germans reach these sectors. take these four separate lines.
good and may well crumble in hot weather under heavy loads.
suitable divisions. MOST OF THE AUSTRA- The roads, however, are not too LIANS EVACUATED FROM CRETE AND GREECE ARE ENJOYING A REST IN PALES- TINE, MR. SPENDER, THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MINISTER, STATED YESTERDAY.
A cable from Sir
Pakov is likely to be their main objective prior to the final
objective of Leningrad.
one
BUCHAREST CANARD
110 Nazi warplanes since The second line along which the Russo-German war Along the Baltic the Germans will find the flat agricultural the Germans are already attack- country to their liking and most ing is north of the famous Pripet began as the vast aerial to aid Russia for their mechanised Marshes through Baranovitch Gap offensi ve
and on to Smolensk and Moscow. fast developed into what Napoleon's Route officials described as the
An official denial was This is the route Napoleon took. beginning of "the most
in authoritative The territory, here is also suitable gigantic air offensive in given to major operations and mechan- the world's history."
circles in London yester- vehicles as far south as ised Bialystov.
During daylight British bom- day to a report sent out. bers carried out the heaviest raid Owing to the Pripet Marshes, they have yet launched against by Bucharest radio. the Germans can hardly make the German-held French
The report alleged that Russia a thrust until the point where by day.
is seeking to obtain the cession the River Bug leaves the fron-
Meanwhile official figures re-by Turkey of certain bases in the vealed that tler noar Sokój.
since Saturday, Dardanelles aroa. when the first glant cald in The Bucharest radio states that this offensive to side Russia at the recent conference between was carried out on the French Mr. Anthony Eden and M. Ivan coast. Britain's fighter planes Maisky, the Soviet Ambassador, have destroyed 119. 'planes by the latter persuaded Mr. Eden to day and 10 by night.
bring pressure to bear on Turkey, During the last 10 days 134 with a view to making the cession Nazi 'planes have been brought to Russia of bases. down by day at the cost of 33 British fighters.
At the same time as this direct Thomas attack it is possible that Blamey, Australian Commander- column will make a flanking in-Chief, said the men were in movement to the south-east. great heart and had been re- Already there has been flerce organised and re-equipped dur-fighting in the Kaunas and Vilna ing the pause.-Reuter.
regions.
New Shipment
Just Unpacked - -
Rainbow
LADIES'
NYLON
HOSIERY
All the Newest Shades.
The WING ON
FROM THIS POINT ALONG A LINE SOME 100 MILES SOUTH-WEST THROUGH PRZEMYL TO THE RIVER SAN, APPEARS TO BE THE DANGER POINT FOR THE RUSSIANS, AS THERE IS NO NATURAL LINE OF DEFENCE.
German aim would be the cap-News Service. ture of Lovo (Lemberg) and make their way on to Kiev.
Not Developed
They may be expected to launch a minor line of attack in a south- westerly direction.
Although this seems to be an obvious line for the Germans it has not yet been strongly de- veloped and the Russians now claim the recapture of Przemyl.
A fourth line of attack may be expected along the Rivers Pruth and Dniester into southern Uk- raine and on to Odessa.
The German and Rumanian attack here, however, appears to be held.
Carpathian Line
coast
It is stated in London there is International not a word of truth in the story
nor in any part of it.-Reuter.
SOVIET WELL SATISFIED BY
COURSE OF EVENTS
(By Reuter's Moscow Correspondent)
Mr. Anthony Eden's speech in the Com- mons was given full prominence in yester- day's press, including the statement that the Germans will attempt any major Soviet has approved of the dispatch of mis- operations over this difficult sions.
North of this line run the Car-
pathians and it is unlikely the
mountainous terrain.:
The country in north Bukovina
is also hardly suitable for military
Mr. Eden's statement that German
Soviet is simply defeat the British
operations on a large scale; as it aggression against the is hilly and wooded, but given stage in an attempt to
good weather,
rich soil of
Bessarabia would be suited for Empimentione
mechanised fighting, and the Rus- sinns will particularly... have to watch out for an attacks across the Dniester from north Bessarabia.
If cuccoonful, this would out off their troops fighting to tho north-west.
The Dalester, however, is usual lyfordable only after July and the only bridge is near Tiraspol in the middle of Bessarabia. Reuter.
The press
that hel emphasised a negative attitude towards Communism but stressed his realistic view of the situation;
His welcome of Mr. Winant, American Ambassador, and the report of America's attitude, were also given prominence.
The war communiquoo, it saya, already show the effec- tivonen, of the Roviot artillery. the thrust of their pilots and @tho."mosa", and quality of their
tanko.
"The challengo has been a¤¬ cepted by the Soviet people and will not be ended until the enemy. No comment bas, been publish- is crushed and destroyed. We do et yet but the Soviet's present not forget that the enemy is strong position is summed up by the and the battle will be difficult' "Pravda" in a leading, getialej Router