1941-09-02 — Page 19

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 2, 1941.

Library, Simreme Corl

Upon

Germans Thrust Defensive In Crucial

Threat To Rear Round Leningrad

CHECKED IN THE THRUST TOWARDS LENINGRAD AND ON THE LOWER DNIEPER, THE GERMANS HAVE BEEN THROWN ON THE DEFENSIVE AT ALL OTHER IMPORT- ANT POINTS ALONG THE 1,800 MILE RUS- SIAN FRONT.

This much is clear from the last reports from the front, though a great deal more re- mains to be told and though it is impossible to foresee the next development.

The Red Army's heaviest This attack was frustrated with counter-assault is south of Lake heavy losses to the Russians. Ilmen, threatening the flanks aus rear of the German troops far ther north, in the Leningrad atuck, while General Koniey is hammering at the Gomel position.

German reports mention fighting near Bobruisk, south- west of Smolensk, indicating a withdrawal for some distance In this sector.

Heavy Counter-

Attacks

Annalist,” in a commentary on the position, points out that while the Soviet High Command, which mentions that fighting continues unabated along the entire front. is, further than this, singularly uncommunicative for the moment. the Germans refer to the numer- ous and widespread counter- attacks by the Russians, not only in the central sector (Gomel and Bobruisk) but also now on the lower course of the Dnieper im the south and in the north below Lake Ilmen.

heads.

Strong Russian forces attack- od the German positions on the lower course of the Dnie-

the per. These attacks-says

ге- German agency-were also pulsed with heavy losseE. In this defensive battle, thousand prisoners were taken.

that states The agency also violent fighting took place yester-

front day in the centre of the and claims that 25 Soviet tanks, including eight of the 52-ton type, were destroyed in this section. It does not répéat the assertion that the attacks repulsed-Reuter.

were