1941-06-27 — Page 18

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."

of

The communique says that as previously announced the Scheer has sunk altogether 152.000 tons. including a complete convoy 80,000 tons.

Loss of the German auxiliary 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 GERMAN ATTACK ON RUSSIA IS LESS THAN A WEEK OLD AND THE NEWS, APART FROM OFFICIAL CO:M.- MUNIQUES, IS VERY SCARCE, IT IS AL- READY POSSIBLE TO FORM SOME IDEA, OF THE GERMAN LINES OF ATTACK.

IRAN

DECLARES

NEUTRALITY

Iran has informed Russia of its intention to remain neutral: in the latest phase of the world, war, says. Mas- cow radio.

A verbal: co amuni- cation to this effect was made yesterday by the Iranian Am- bassador in Moscow. -Reuter.

DOOO

man war machine is being used regardless of cost.

Judging by news to hand and the topo- be graphy of the country, the Germans: may, expected to attack in four directions to the east of the Baltic, in addition to a direct attack on Leningrad from Finland across the reserve. Karelian Isthmus.

CLAIMS REGARDING THE SCHEER, WAS: VAS A RESULT.

Two main attacks at present are Baltic OF

through the RECONNAISSANCE IT IS developing

and

the KNOWN THAT THE SCHEER States

North Poland, HAS BEEN IN HARBOUR SINCE former with Leningrad and the. THE MIDDLE OF APRIL."- latter with Moscow as the main' REUTER.

objectives.

REST FOR AUSSIES

The other two thrusts may be A expected on Kiev and Odessa, movement has already started to take these four separate lines.

Along the Baltic the Germans will find the flat agricultural country to their liking and most suitable for their mechanised divistons.

The roads, however, are not too good and may well crumble in hot weather under heavy loads.

to be their Pskov is likely main objective prior to the final objective of Leningrad. At the same time as this direct one is possible that will make a flanking in-Chief, said the men were in movement to the south-east.

Already there has been flerce fighting in the Kaunas and Vilna regions.

MOST OF THE AUSTRA- 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 Thomas attack it Blamey, Australian Commander-column

great heart and had

re-

been organised and re-equipped dur- ing the pause.--Reuter.

New Shipment

Just: Unpacked -

Rainbow

LADIES'

NYLON

HOSIERY

∙in

All the Newest Shades.

The WING ON

Calma

The total number of German troops already, engaged was over one million, he asserted, and add- ed that a further million were in The spokesman also re- vealed that the Germans are using more 'planes than in the Battle of Here the Russians can afford France last year, says Reuter.

The Soviets are countering in- ground as they to give some

strong line of defence tense German air activity by hayo a along the old Soviet-German throwing the greater part of their frontier, and

air force into the fray and losses along Russo-Polish border.

on both sides are reported to have They may be expected to put been very heavy. up very fierce resistance once the Germans reach these sectors.

The second line along which the Germans are already attack- Ing is north of the famous Pripet Marshes through Baranovitch Gap and on to Smolensk and Moscow.

the

Napoleon's Route

old

This is the route Napoleon took. The territory here is also suitable to major operations and mechan- vehicles as far south as ised Bialystov.

According to a Soviet communi- que, in the first four days of the war the Germans lost 457 planes and the Russiang 291.

Four Routes

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 Cyrenaiça,

RAE bombers raided the landing ground nt Gazala, damaging a number of 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.

Protective patrold wero · car- ried out over the Allied troops in Byria, and Australian fighters Intercepted. and shot: down three Potoz: 68 fighters and damaged others..

Enemy aircraft raided- Damas- cus on Wednesday and caused. a number of civilian casualties.

Minor raids on Haifa and Acre.

little the previous

day, caused damage.

One Allied aircraft is missing from these operations-Reuter.

CONSULTATIONS: IN VICHY

A neutral observer with the Russian forces said that there were four possible routes for the Ger- THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL man drive, excluding, direct attack from Finland.

These would be̟- Firstly, across the Baltic States direct on to Leningrad,

Owing to the Pripet Marahès, Secondly, through. Baranovitch the Germans can hardly make gap south of the, Pripet Marshes a thrust until the point where on to the Moscow Road which was the River Bug leaves the fron taken by Napoleon, tler near Sokol,

Thirdly, from the point where FROM. THIS POINT ALONG the frontier leads to the

Rivers

A LINE SOME 100 MILES Bug and Sân through Lwow on to SOUTH-WEST THROUGH Kiev, and

PRZEMYL TO THE RIVER SAN, Fourthly, across the APPEARS TO BE THE DANGER Pruth and Dniester to POINT FOR THE RUSSIANS, AS |Ukraine and Odessa. THERE IS NO NATURAL LINE

Too Early.

OF DEFENCE.

German aim would be the cap- 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,

now

Although this seems to be an obvious line for the Germans it has not yet been strongly de- veloped and the Russians 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 Rumanlan attack here, however, appears to be held.

Carpathian Line

North of this line run the Car- pathians and it is unlikely the Germans will attempt any major operations over this difficult mountainous terrain.

The country in north, Bukovinā

Rivers southern

| OF

ALGERIA. ADMIRAL ABRIAL: LEFT ALGIERS. ON. WEDNESDAY BY PLANE FOR.

RY VICHY ACCOMPANIED COL LAGANDE, DEPUTY OF HIS MILITARY CHIEF CABINET.

Abrial, whose absence will be short, is returning to Vichy to confer with the Government and of deal with a certain number matters concerning Algeria. Reuter.

would seem that two principal at- tacks are being made through the Baltic States on to Leningrad: and along the Napoleonic line through Baranovitch gap to Moscow.... There is, evidence, the observer He pointed out, however, that it said, that attacks have been made was too early to say in which main attacks may in all four. quarters but from.com-direction the muniques Issued by belligerents it develop.-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.

is also hardly suitable for military day's press, including the statement that the operations on a large scale; as it

is hilly and wooded, but given Soviet has approved of the dispatch of mis- good weather, the rich soil of sions.

Bessarabla would be suited for

mechanised fighting, and the Rus-

slans will particularly have to

Mr. Eden's statement that German

watch out for an attack across the aggression against the Soviet is simply a

Dniester from north Bessarabia.

It successful, this would out stage in

Empire,

off their troops fighting to the north-west.!

The Dalester, however, is usual- Lyfordable only after July and the only bridge is near Tiraspol in the middle of Bossarabia Reuter

German Alm:

an attempt to defeat the British

The press montioned that he emphasised a negative attitude towards Communism, but stressed his realistle view of the situation,

His welcome of Mr. Winant, American Ambassador, and the. report of America's attitude, A Berlin spokesman has reveal-were also given promitience, ed that it is vitul for Germany to No comment has been publish, finish tho Russian campaign ined you but the Soviet's presont the shortest possible time and for position is summed up by the this purposa almost the entire Gory "Pravda" in a leading article.

The war communiques), It Enys, already show the effog- tiveness of the Soviet actillary the thrust of thain pilots and, the mass and quality of their tankay ka

"The challengo has been ac¬ cepted by the Soviot propla, anda will not be ended until the enemy is crushed, and destroyed We do not forget that the entmy is strong, and the buttle.will be difficult", Router