Evening star., 1941-08-01
Red Planes, Troops
Counter-Attack Nazis
In SmoIensk Salient
AZ Germun Assaults on
Gotewoy to Moscow Are
Reported Fought OFF
ey ths Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Aug. 1.-The battle of
Smolensk, gateway to Moscow, en-
tered its 18th day today, with the
Russians apparently taking the in
itiative to force back the Germans
at some points.
The Russian air force, which the
Germans had announced destroyed,
co-operated with land troops to
counterattack the German positions
In the Smolensk direction.
The Russians asserted that Sno-
lensk-which the Germans Claimed
they captured two weeks ago-still
was in the defenders hands. After
fighting off AZ German attacks since
July Is, the Russians took the
initiative.
Night Fighting Sharp.
This afternoons communique said
sharp fighting had continued
throughout the night in the Smo-
lensk sector and said other battles
were raging in the zones of Zhlt-
onlir. west OF KleV, and N0V0rzneV,
200 miles south of Leningrad.
It made no mention, however, OF
action at Porkhov. so miles north
of Novorzhev, where fighting had
been reported yesterday.
In addition to smashing at Ger
man ground forces and communica-
tions, the Red Air Force was report
ed to have sunk a destroyer IN the
Baltic and severely damaged two
other ships.
The communique failed to say
whether the vessels were German or
Finnish.
Hopkins Sees Stain 8 Hours.
Harry L. Hopkins, United States
lease lend administrator, talked
three hours in his second interview
with Premier Joseph Stain and
later said his conviction that Hitler
is going to lose the war had been
strengthened.
He told American correspondents: ::
At have nothing to add to what
said the other day other than that
my short visit here has given me
even more confidence that Hitler is
going to lose"
Mr.. Hopkins, who discusse d
United States supplies to aid Russia.
carried his briefcase into the Krem-
lin and it was understood he told
the Russian leader that American
production of war materials would
surpass any foreign estimates, par
ticularly in planes.
He talked earlier with Vyacheslav
Molotov, Commissar for Foreign At
fairs.
Steinhardt Accompanies Hopkins.
United States Ambassador Lau-
renee A. Steinhardt accompanied
Mr.. Hopkins on his visit to Molotov
but the Stalin- Hopkins meeting was
attended only by interpreters.
German planes made their eighth
nightly foray in IL nights against
Moscow and. as on previous nights
Russians said they were forced
back. A few planes reached the
city and dropped a small number
of incendiaries which were extin'
guished after several small fire.
were started.
1t was the second raid against
the capital since Mr.. Hopkins ar.
rival, but the American slep
through the air alarm in Spast
House. "
Is Mani Planes Claimed.
Russians claimed victories ovel
sea and land for their planes. say.
ing one flight of dive bombers at.
tackled two German patrol ships II
the Baltic and brought down 1;
German planes to Soviet losses.
S. A. Lozovsky, vice commissar O.
foreign affairs, told a press confer
ence that Mr.. Hopkins visit dem
onstrates once more the determine
tion of the United States to help al
peoples fighting for their independ
ence against Nazi barbarism."
He said Mr.. Hopkins visit art
the signing of the Russian-Pollsf
agreement we're two events "to tn,
disadvantage of Hitler and to tn,
advantage of freedom loving peo