IN CONFLICT ON MOSCOW APPROACHES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 October 1941, Page 5

IN CONFLICT ON MOSCOW APPROACHES

Bitter Street Fighting in Kalinin ENEMY ONSLAUGHT ON CRIMEAN GATEWAY RESUMED J -— ATTEMPTED DRIVE INTO DONETZ BASIN LONDON, October 23. The fiercest fighting on the Moscow front appears to be at Kalinin, where the Germans are throwing in reserves. The “Isvestia” says bitter street fighting is taking place there and that tank traps and barricades are being erected in the streets and squares. The paper claims that already in the battle of Kalinin the Germans have suffered more than 3,000 casualties and lost large quantities of equipment. The battle has lasted for eight days and is still raging fiercely, In a communique today, the Germans claim that their forces south-west and west of Moscow have reached a point 38 miles from the capital. The Russians say that the roads to Moscow are completely blocked and that they have beaten off the German onslaught to the west. Further south, fierce fighting is reported on the Perekop Isthmus, at the entrance to the Crimea. The Germans mention two Russian counter-attacks and claim that they were repulsed. Further north, on the approaches to the Donetz basin, the fighting has also been intensified. The “Isvestia” states that already the enemy losses are about 10,000 officers and men in fighting in this sector. The Russians are still outnumbered in this area.