Soviet Smashes Attempt To Take Islands In Gulf
EASTERN FRONT ANALYSIS
(By "Annalist")
SEVERE GERMAN LOSSES IN VAIN
(By Reuter's Resident Correspondent
in Moscow)
THE IMPORTANCE of the Soviet victory in smashing a German attempt to land forces on the Soviet-held islands of Ezel and Moon, at the entrance of Riga Bay and partly com- al-manding the Gulf of Finland, is emphasised by the promotion yesterday of Major-General of the coastal defences Alexis Yeliseev to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
The German communi- que yesterday made a re- vealing statement though it does not consti-
tute a claim
It said that in the east, offen- developing into sive actions are
operation On #
big very
the Russian
one scale.
This bears
out
It was he who commanded various sec- tions of the Soviet Baltic Navy concerned in communique, which again speaks beating off the Germans.
of stubborn fighting along whole front.
the
The testimony of both Rus- slang and Germans, therefore, is in agreement, mainly that the fierce German onslaught is matched by stubborn Russian resistance.
Thus, after 80 days of fighting. both sides are still straining for victory and neither can claim any major or decisive battles. Reuter.
Less Than Justice
But this bald analysis of the position does less than justice to the Soviet defence. In our to appreciate the measures of their success it is only necessary to quote the bulletins of the Ger- man High Command after The Arst fortnight and three werks of war.
The roart was stated to be open to Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev while the Russian forces were described as a disorganised rabble without leadership and Co- ordination. These
of the High
While the Soviets hold Ezel and WAS CONTESTED. other islands in the same Kroup Several thousand Germans stretching north and south across were killed in this second opera- both the entrance of Riga Bay, it not tion, making the total for only means that a German move attempts extremely costly-Reu- into the Finnish Gulf would hejter. very difficult but also that Ger-| man possession of Riga naval base is practically valueless.
A despatch describing the German attempt states that the first expedition which tried to approach the islands at dawn on Saturday was beaton off after only a four-hour battle.
The second effort. however, which began on Sunday with much larger number of smaller vessels, lasted until Tuesday and some German forces at one time succeeded in getting a foothold before being thrown back into the
sea.
Transports Sunk
Aboard each of the six trans- ports used on Saturday, of which four were sunk, were up to 2,500 Germans.
protected by eight Command were not propaganda destroyers, of which one was sunk, fairy tales issued by Goebbels' and eleven
reports
They were
motor torpedo-boats,
loud-speakers. They are the most of which ten were sunk. damning evidence of the unrelia- bility of the German bulletins.
Stupendous Effort
It is clear that desperate fight- ing is still proceeding. The Ger- man effort undoubtedly has been stupendous but it has been match- ed by the Soviet resistance and losses on both sides have been astronomical.
But the Russian is fighting for his hearth and home. The Ger- man soldier, if he does think at all, must be asking himself: Why all this sacrifice?
are
made
The second effort was from neighbouring ports on the mainland. The Germans lost one large and many small transports. THE LAND BATTLE AFTER SOME OF THE GERMANS HAD SUCCEEDED IN LANDING WAS EVERY YARD VERY BITTER.
V
SUPPLY SHIPS FOR U.S. NAVAL BASES
Rear-Admiral
Adolphus An- Certainly people in Germany drews, Commandant of the 3rd beginning to murmur and Naval District, announced in New show their anxiety.
York yesterday that the U.S. Navy Most significant feature of has arranged to use 17 merchant- yesterday's news was the claim, men as supply ships to naval bases made in unofficial Soviet quar- outside the continental United ters to have ecored another bip States. Success
Several have been put into Yelnya. service and the remainder will near where they won a big battle last be ready shortly. All the ships week.
will be manned From a strategical viewpoint crews. -
In the Smolensk arca Yartcevo, near
the fighting in this central zone is by far the most important.
Reuter.
GROWING INTENSITY OF BATTLE
Reuter,
with civilian
to
as the Germans had planned launch a powerful new thrust from the village.
Naval artillery gave support to land forces who stormed the enemy positions with no regard for themselves. The village was recaptured after very heavy losses had been inflicted on the Nazis.
The enemy is reported to be hurling in new forces and concen- trating vast curtains of fire in or- der to break the resistance of the defenders.
According to latest re- Battle is also reported to be en- ap- ports from Moscow the gaging on the distant sea
proaches to Leningrad where the battle for Leningrad is Germans are repentedly attempt- Qesel and other growing in intensity with ing to capture
islands controlling Riga Bay and the Germans increasing the southern entrance to the Gulf
their pressure and the of Finland.
After a four-hour battle
last
Russians stiffening their Saturday. the Russians sank four defences on land and sea to six enemy transports, one des- troyer, ten cutters and many small ships.The ships comprising the raiding fleet. fled.
and in the air.
Reports describe the recapture by the Red Army of a village on a Parachutists were used In an cross roads leading to Leningrad. other unsuccessful attack-Bri- The Battle was flerce in character tish Wireless,
NEVER
HAVE
AMERICA FINANCING SOVIET ORDERS
It was officially an- nounced yesterday that the United States is providing $100,- 000,000 for Russia to purchase war materi- al in the United States, says Reuter.
SUCH TREMENDOUS
VALUES BEEN
OFFERED!
CHINA EMPORIUM LTD.
8th Anniversary Commemoration GIFT COUPONS
been
Commencing last Friday and un- til next Sunday, 21st September, we offer -you a buying oppor- tunity that "has never equalled by any past service to the community. There has never been an offer like this! "Never such VALUES during this
WAR TIME „period!.
W
giving you «more for your money. Every department - in the store is brimming over with the things you need priced at the lowest possible During figure" for this event!
ADOLF PEEVED
Hitler has been trying lately to show contempt for English gentlemen but when writing "Mein" Kampf" he thought them wonderful, and probably still does, says the "New Yorker."
We have an idea the aristocra- tie bad manners of the British were what drove him to the Rus- sian campaign.
The Fuehrer could stand plen- ty but when Mr. Churchill spoke of him, publicly as a “bloody gut- tersnipe" he blew up, more at the noun than the adjective, and flung his armies against the Soviet try- ing to promote a crusade to save Christian gentility!-Reuter.
RSARY
GIFTS
ANN
CHINA
this celebration we're having a surprise' Birthday Gift in the form of
·PRESENTATION - COUPONS. To every purchaser of goods to the amount of $1.00 or over will be given a coupon which may be ex- ~changed for goods in any department of the store. The more you spend, the greater the value you'll get from your coupons in return, Latest So it is to your selections of seasonable goods have been unpacked. advantage to buy during the Commemoration period, and thus benefit by the GIFT COUPONS.
YOUR EARLY INSPECTION IS CORDIALLY INVITED