IN BATTLES OF GROWING FEROCITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 5

IN BATTLES OF GROWING FEROCITY

Heavy Counter-Attacks in Many Places GIGANTIC STRUGGLE ON APPROACHES TO MOSCOW INTENSE FIGHTING ON SOUTHERN FRONT LONDON, October 21. The battles on the approaches to Moscow are growing in ferocity. The Russians are holding the Germans and in many places are launching heavy counter-attacks. ... The Moscow radio has given a vivid account of the gigantic struggle. In the Kalinin sector, Russian attacks are beingpressed home in the face of German dive-bombers but the enemy was thrown back, losing several valuable heights. Many places were taken, lost and retaken. In the suburbs of Kalinin, bitter street fighting is in progress. The Germans are counter-attack-ing to regain the lost positions. German parachutists have been mopped up. Enemy losses in the Kalinin sector are particularly .heavy. , , In the Mojaisk sector, the Germans are thrusting towards the main road, but well-organised resistance is stemming their advance. Further south, in the Malo Yaroslavets sector, a dangerous wedge driven by the Germans on Saturday has now been straightened out. The Germans are trying’ to capture what is described as a large population centre in this area. South of Moscow, in the fighting round Orel, the Germans are held to their old positions. . . The Germans claim the capture of Stalin, m the Ukraine, by German and Italian forces. Stalin is 70 miles north of Mariupol and is a big industrial centre. The Russians state that an intense battle is taking place in this area. The enemy, it is stated, has a marked numerical superiority, particularly m tanks, in the Donetz basin area, where the Russians are stemming the German advance by stout resistance. The battle here is of ever-increasing- intensity. Stubborn fighting is also reported north of the Sea of Azov, where the Russians defeated a German attempt to outflank them and succeeded in withdrawing to prepared positions. In the Leningrad sector, the Germans speak of fierce Russian counter-attacks on a broad front south of Lake Ladoga. They state that they are in no hurry to capture Leningrad.