London, July 24.
German double offensive against Moscow and Leningrad has been somewhat slowed down, apparently remaining approximate with the armies facing each other rely in the same position. One of the most stubborn battles of the whole campaign took place yesterday in the Polotsk, Nevel and Smolensk areas.
Bloody fighting was also raging around Zhitomir, west of Kiev, and on the Bessarapian front, according to a Soviet statement, while the Germans admit that strong Russian forces are fighting in a large pocket 80 miles west of Kiev.
The latest Soviet communique today spoke of fighting only in areas that have been regularly mentioned for several days past. It said nothing of the operations reported yesterday between Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega at Petrozavodsk.
The Germans acknowledge that they have not yet reached the main defences of "Leningrad. where they expect tong the toughest going they"have Jet known:
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