Authorized German sources claimed last night that the Nazi war machine "was pounding against the rear of retreating Soviet formations over the entire eastern front, and was delivering tremendous blows on the ground and from the air which cost the Russians heavily in casualties, The German Army was said to be hampering Soviet efforts to build up new defence lines west of Moscow where the Nazi Panzer columns were blasting forward from the Smolensk area, utilizing the modern highway leading toward the Russian capitol. The Russians were said to be fever-ighly constructing new lines of defence after the Germans had cracked the famed Stalin Line, To the rear of the main battle front, the Germans were clearing up defence pockets behind the battle lines, these quarters added, Because of fierce Soviet resistance. the Germans took a bloody toll during the mopping-up operations, it was stated, "In Close Pursuit"
The Germans hailed the High Command communique claiming that German and Rumanian forces were in close pursuit of the Russians after breaking Soviet resistance on the eastern bank of the Dniester river, Numerous Russian pockets were established following the Allied break-through there. and bloody fighting was raging in many areas. Efforts by the Russians to break through the Naz encirclements were said to have been smashed at mossi points, There was no official comment available on the fighting around Smolensk where the Germans were concentrating their attacks in an effort to reach Moscow before the Red Army can reform its lines—United Press.
By again listing Smolensk among the battle zones. the Soviet military leadership implied that the Red Army centre had halted the mechanized Nazi advance units which pushed last week into that area 200 miles west of Moscow in a threat 4o the capital, Rains fell generally for the third day in succession and mudstained equipment, The Soviet communique indicated. however, that Russian airmen got off on their regular missions, continuing operations for the destruciotn of enemy tanks and motorized troops,
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