IN LATEST BATTLES ON MOSCOW FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1941, Page 5

IN LATEST BATTLES ON MOSCOW FRONT

I. Russians Turn Defence Into Attack GREAT ANNIVERSARY PARADE IN RED SQUARE POSITION STILL GRAVE IN SOUTH LONDON, November 7. M. Stalin’s declaration that the Russian forces are beating .off German attacks along the whole front is' borne out in later reports of the fighting. M. Stalin took the salute at a ceremonial parade in the Red Square in celebration of the anniversary of the revolution. < M. Stalin told his soldiers:—“We are celebrating our anniversary in difficult days, but now, in spite of the treacherous attack of the German armies, our country is in a better position than she was 23 years ago.’-’ Russia, he said, was far better off in food, industry and materials and her reserves of manpower were inexhaustible. “Germany,’’ he added, is bleeding and her people see no end to the war. Since M. Stalin spoke there has been no indication of any change on the Moscow front, where the Germans appear to be held at all points. Reports from the fighting areas still speak of Russian counter-attacks and add that German reinforcements which are being brought up are being given an unmerciful battering. Another message, describing how the Germans tried to encircle Russian troops near Volokolamsk, states that the Russians turned defence into attack and drove the enemy back three miles. A later message states that there is still a complete silence from Germany in regard to operations on the central (Moscow) front. . German bombers tried to raid Moscow last night, but Soviet plafies and the city’s ground defences drove them back. Thirtyfour German planes—a record number—were shot down near the capital yesterday. The situation is still grave at the southern end of the front,, though the Germans have not added to their claim that Sebas topol is within range of their artillery. The German radio speaks of the fall of Sebastopol and Kerch within a few days, but a German communique merely speaks of the difficult country being traversed and of the resistance of Russian rearguards. There is no news of any advance towards the Straits of Kerch.