GERMAN CLAIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1941, Page 6

GERMAN CLAIMS

MINING AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS OCCUPIED ON APPROACHES TO MOSCOW. RUSSIANS FIGHTING SAVAGELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This’ Day, 11.33 a.m.) LONDON, October 17. The Vichy radio, which stated that the Germans are now 37 miles from Moscow, quoted a report from Berlin that the Germans will not consider Moscow an open town. A Wilhelmstrasse official said the Germans had captured an important industrial district south-westward of Moscow and also extensive lignite fields and a power station serving the Moscow industrial area.

The “Pravda” declared that Russian troops concentrated on the approaches to Moscow had somewhat slowed down the pace of the enemy’s advance. It added that the Russians were fighting savagely on the central front and holding their battle-lines stubbornly. The Russians had broken German thrusts into the defences of the Viazma and Kalinin sectors. A German plan to destroy Russian forces in the Bryansk area had been frustrated. The Russians had evaded an encircling move and rejoined the main forces. Reinforcements, constantly arriving on the Kalinin front, include many workers from Kalinin factories. A German communique repeats that the town and harbour of Odessa have been taken. German, Italian, Hungarian and Slovak troops, it states “continue. the pursuit of the beaten foe between the Sea of Azov and the Donetz basin. Other operations on the Eastern front are proceeding according to plan.” It is learned in London that Japanese troops in Manchukuo, which are believed to have numbered 250,000 at the outbreak of the German-Russian war, now number half a million. LOSS OF ODESSA ADMITTED BY RUSSIANS. AN ORDERLY EVACUATION. LONDON, October 17. A Russian communique states that Odessa has been evacuated by Russian troops. The evacuation was carried out in perfect order. Jhe troops have been transported by sea to other sectors. LENIN’S BODY ■ REMOVED FROM MOSCOW AS PRECAUTION. HITLER’S REPORTED AMBITION. (Received This Day, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 17. The embalmed body of Lenin has been removed from its mausoleum in Moscow and taken to a hiding place “somewhere in Russia,” says the “Standard’s” diarist. Although Stalin is determined that Hitler shall not enter Moscow, he has taken this precaution. Hitler planned to take Lenin’s body to Berchtesgaden, cremate it and have the ashes strewn on the ground around the chalet, where he could tread on them*