VIAZMA RETAKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1941, Page 5

VIAZMA RETAKEN

IN TERRIFIC TANK BATTLE SOME ENEMY .ADVANCE UNITS ISOLATED. ON WEST AND SOUTH OF MOSCOW. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 13. The Russians under General Boldin have recaptured Viazma after a terrific 12-hourtank battle. The Germans were driven back several miles. The Germans’ losses here in the weekend are estimated to have been more than 5000 men and 100 tanks. Some German tank units are reported to be at least 45 miles east of Viazma. Other panzer forces have apparently reached Tula and Kaluga, but the Russians have isolated them and are beating back the supporting infantry. The thrust against Moscow from the south is meeting with stubborn resistance just north of Mtsensk, which is covered with snow and the invaders here have to traverse great forest areas. It was officially announced in Moscow that the Russians evacuated Bryansk and took up new positions for the defence of the capital. This move may have foiled the German attempt to encircle the Russians in this sector. Bryansk had become a dangerous salient for the defenders after the evacuation of Orel. There are reports that the German drive nortlf of Bryansk is aimed at cutting in behind the Russian defences round Viazma. A German High Command spokesman, after claiming yesterday that the campaign had entered a new phase, admitted strong Russian attacks on the central and Leningrad fronts. The Russian night communique stated: “On October 12 our troops were engaged in fighting in the Viazma and Bryansk directions. After heavy fighting which lasted for several days our troops withdrew from Bryansk.” A supplementary communique gave details of the savage and desperate nature of the fighting in the Nazis’ supreme effort to reach some decision before winter. It stated: “The fighting on the central front is growing in intensity. The German High Command is persistently throwing m new units. In some sectors the Germans achieved superiority of numbers and, paying a price in huge losses of men and material, succeeded in advancing and pushing wedges into the line of defence.” VITAL SUPPLY ROUTE THE IRANIAN RAILWAY. REQUEST FOR AMERICAN ROLLING STOCK. NEW YORK, October 12. The New York “Herald-Tribune” states that Britain has requested America to supply under lease-lend 200 locomotives, 20,000 goods trucks, and 250,000 tons of rail steel for the Iranian railway. This might eventually become the only route to convey supplies to Russia, but Washington officials are chary of sending the rolling-stock till the outcome of the present battle in Russia is clearer.