The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-05

Strong indications that the Ger man offensive on Leningrad from the south and west had been effec- lively stopped by the Russians tn- creased belief that Stern would attack soon.
 Steady Flow of Supplies
 It was reported that there was a steady flow of supplies from Leningrad toward the 1sthmus front, and that heavy Soviet troop achievements were. massing there. The Finnish command was said TO have been compelled to send men from the Hangoe area, the Rus sian naval base on the Finnish southwest coast, to reinforce their IsthmuS army.
 There were reports also that the Russians were preparing for big counter-attack north of Lake La- doga, where the Germans and Films have threatened to cut the Leningrad Murmansk Arctic rail- road.
 Stern, in command in the 18th mus, once commanded the Russian Far Eastern troops and in 1888 claimed big victory over the Jap aneSe in border fighting. He was called to lake command in the ISthmuS late in December 1889.
 Russia by its peace treaty with Finland obtained the strong strat- tegic position in the Isthmus, and one expert commented of the Len ingrad situation that the Russians seemed to be threatening the Ger mans and Films instead of being threatened in the Isthmus. Increasing attention was being paid to the German drive on Kiev. There was a feeling that Kiev it. self was not immediately threat ened and that it's defenses were strong, but that there was threat in the German advance on rall- road centers in the western Ukraine, especially the north south roads along which the Russians could transfer men to hot spots.
 The possibility was foreseen that the Germans might invest Odessa, the Ukrainian port, and that the Russians would seek to hold 1t against a long siege, supplying it from the sea.
 Economic Warfare London, Aug. 5-(UP)-Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton said today that steps taken by the United Sttaes, primarily for eco homie defense, had helped to tighten the British blockade.
 "F1is majesty's government greatly appreciate the help they are re- ceiving from the United States government in this important field" Dalton said.
 Dalton spoke in the house of commons in reply to request for 8 statement on United States eco- homie defense measures and the extent to which the United States was cooperating with Britain.
 During the past six months there h2s been a remarkable de- velopment in measures of economic defense by the United States" he said. "The exports licensing system has been strictly enforced as a most effective means of denying supplies to the enemy. Now it is being SUD- plemented by a big program of pur- chases of strategic material in Latin America which also will de- prive the Aisx powers of valuable supplies. On the financial side the blockade had been much strength ened by the freezing of German Italian and Japanese assets"
 Dalton said the British had beer blockading Finland since June IA following information that German troops were being stationed there in substantial numbers.
 Dalton admitted that the British had blockaded Finland without awaiting a rupture in diplomatic relations but when he was asked whether the same procedure would be applied to Spain he replied 'that is another question"
 Italian Island Raided
 London, Aug. 5-(UP)-Britisf destroyers Friday morning raidec Alghero harbor and Porto Conte on the Italian island of Sardinia shelling a seaplane slipway anc hangars and bombarding an air. drome, the admiralty said today.
 "The seaplane slipway and hang ars at Porto Conte were severely damaged by gunflre," the admiralty said. 'No shipping was found in ths anchorage at Alghero but the air drome was bombarded."
 After the destroyers left, the ad. miralty said, naval aircraft at- tackled and set fire to buildings anc hangars at Alghero.
 The Alghero roadstead and Porte Conte are On the northwest coast of Sardinia, southwest of the i'm. portant town of Sassari. They ars on the opposite side of the islane from Cagliari. the capital. which British planes attacked last week.
 London, Aug. 6-(UP)-A Daily Mail Washington dispatch reported as from "ofiicial circles" today that "very high British parsonage, possibly Prime Minister Winston Churchill or Lord Beaverbrook supply minister, might fly to thu United Sttaes to see President Roosevelt.
 Cairo, Aug. S-(UP)--Britlsh pa. trols in the Tobruk area of Libys and on the Llbya-Egypt frontier arc continuing their AannFe9give aea