NINETEENTH WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1941, Page 5

NINETEENTH WEEK

' OF INVASION OF SOUTHERN RUSSIA NAZIS STRIVING DESPERATELY F'OR RESULTS. OUTLOOK IN SEVERAL AREAS CRITICAL. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 26. Today, as the fighting in 'Russia enters its nineteenth week, the Russians are beating off the heavily mounting German threat to Moscow and in the Donetz Basin are trying desperately to stem the enemy’s advance. All reports show that despite ferocious land and air assaults, the Germans have been unable to make a decisive break-through of the perimeter defences of Moscow. In the Donetz Basin region the evidence shows that the. Germans, through the sheer weight of metal and are making w progress, specially toward the rich ini' dustrial town of Rostov. ■ There is no confirmation of the usual weekend German claims, which this time announced the capture of Kharkov, the great armament centre and industrial capital of 'the eastern Ukraine. The Germans say that Kharkov was taken after a two-days’ air blitz which reduced the whole city to flames.

The Moscow radio this morning emphasised that Rostov was seriously threatened, but so far massive assaults by the Germans have been repulsed. Moscow also described the fighting at the approaches to the Crimea as more fierce, but said the Germans have not achieved significant gains though they have penetrated deeply into the Russian defences at 'isolated places. However, a critical situation has arisen "because the enemy is in a position to attack the Russian rear, and consequently the defenders of the Crimea face severe trials to keep out the powerful enemy, it added. ' A Moscow communique reported that fighting was continuing in the directions of Mojaisk, Malo Yaroslavets, Taganrog and Makeevka (near Stalin). Scores of German planes were being shot down. Guerilla activities were still going on in the Odessa region. It is felt in London (says the British Office Wireless) that not only prestige with the .-German people and the eagerly watching allies and neutrals but also the practical needs for satisfactory winter quarters are forcing the Nazi leaders to throw in reserves almost recklessly and attack with redoubled violence to achieve some definite result before many more weeks have passed. DEFENCE OF CAUCASIA SOVIET UNITS RECALLED FROM IRAN. LONDON, October 26. The Teheran correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the Red Army command at Tiflis has recalled mechanised units from northern Iran for the defence of. Caucasia. Tanks and armoured cars from Kazvin anft Zenjan have already started for Tabriz en route for the Russian frontier. A Russian cavalry division in the Lake Urmia district has sent back two regiments, and the Russian Air Force' was removed northward of Tabriz a week ago. KILLED BY BOMB RUMANIAN COMMANDER OF ODESSA. WITH FIFTY OFFICERS. BUCHAREST, October 24. The explosion of a Russian delayedaction bomb at Odessa killed the Rumanian General Glugosianu, commander of the town, and 50 Rumanian officers. The bomb had been hidden near the former Ogpu headquarters.