Evening star., 1941-08-20
Russians Mass Tanks
In Attacks 10 Cover
Dnieper Retreat
0ermon Assault by SEQ
On Oil Port of Butum
Hinted in Berlin
By the Associated Press.

o. li'F SFNbitdtSu FlCSN
BERLIN. Aug. 20.-Germsn dis
patches from the lower Dnieper
front tonight said large formations
of Russian tanks were counterat-
tacking German lines in an attempt
to cover Withdrawals of siza bic Rus
sian units eastward across the river.
Russian bridgeheads on the west
bank, however. we're described as
few and far between. Swarms of
German planes were said to be
bombing ferries and boats in which
Russians we're attempting to cross,
inHicting heavy losses.
The German objective was said
to be not only TO chase the Rus
slams to the eastern bank of the
river, but TO prevent them from TAX
ing new positions on the other side
Sea Assault Predicted.
envisioned in Berlin today as the
Nszis predicted the fall of Odessa
within matter of 6ays-perhaps
hours
Capture OF Odessa would leave the
entire Russian coast west of the
Dnieper River in German hands.
thereby seriously impairing Soviet
hopes of controlling the Black Sea,
observers pointed out.
The war bulletin from Adolf Hit
ler's headquarters today said Ger
man troops had made successful at
tacks on Russian forces still Defend
ing bridgeheads on the west bank
of the Dnieper. destroying SIS tanks
and taking numerous prisoners
There were no other claims regard
ing the Eastern front.
A sea borne assault on Batum. at
the eastern end of the Black Sea.
would relieve the Germans of
long overland offensive and would.
if successful. provide a gateway for
an assault on the vital Caucasus oil
region.
Mani Sea Strength Unknown.
How much naval strength the
Germans could muster in the Black
Sea is a question, but they have
reported their air force has reduced
considerably the strength of the
Russian Black Sea feet.
In addition to Soviet war vessels
said to have been damaged by air
bombs, the Germans declared yes
terday they had captured eight
warships-including a 3500O-ton
battleship-under construction at
the Nikolaev naval base east of
Odessa.
months ago dispatches from
the Balkans reported the Ger
mans had shipped small subma-
rines in knock down form across
Rumania and were assembling
them on the Black Sea COAST.
The assault on Odessa, which the
Germans said already was under
way, apparently coincided with in
creased pressure on the Ukranian
capital of Kiev, situated on the
west bank Of the Dnieper about 28O
miles to the north.
Odessa Raids Stepped Up.
Though there was no mention in
German dispatches of the fate of
the big industrial center of Dneiper-
opetrovSk. Nazi writers said the left
wing of Gen Won Rundstedts forces
was advancing toward the great
bend of the Dnieper against stiff
resistance.
Dnieperopetrovsk is situated at the
great bend, on the west side of the
river.
News from the Ukraine over
shadowed operations on other Sec
tors of the front, and Berlin news
papers carried only fragmentary re-
ports of what was happening on the
Smolensk and Leningrad fronts. -
Aerial assaults on Odessa, Russia's
No. 3 city and No. Black Sea port.
were said by D.N.B. to have been
stepped up sharply in the past two
days.
1t reported the water front Uttered
with the wreckage of buildings and
the harbor with sunken ships. Air
borne artillery, it said, has taken q
heavy toll Of Red Army concentra-
tions there, even to "the destruction
of entire units"
German air scouts said an air at
tack on Odessa Monday left the
harbor covered with smoke from a
number of heavily hit transports,
DNB. reported.
"Of many sunken warships. only
the tops of masts were showing above
the water" it described the scene.
"Harbor facilities were permanently
destroyed. snr A stick of bombs had
blasted the northern port terminal.
Freight cars were destroyed and
trackage torn up for miles. Big
shipbuilding dock facilities suffered
direct hits and were gutted by fire."