POWERFUL ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1941, Page 5

POWERFUL ATTACKS

HELD ON MOSCOW FRONT Germans Claim Capture of Rostov RUSSIANS ADMIT BITTER FIGHTING . IN STREETS ENEMY THREAT TO THE CAUCASUS LONDON, November 23. At no point are the Germans nearer than 50 miles to the Russian capital. It is stated that they are reconsidering- their plans in the face of the strong Russian resistance. The enemy is developing pincer movements at Kalinin, to the north-west, and at Tula, to the south, but even if these were successful it would bring the Germans little nearer to the city’s defences. The Russians, however, are said to be holding the German advance at Kalinin and Tula, though they report continued and heavy enemy attacks in the Tula sector. The Russians admit that, on the southern front, bitter fighting is taking place in the streets of Rostov.

HUGE LOSSES DISREGARDED BV NAZIS IN ATTEMPTS TO TAKE MOSCOW. NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY IN SOUTH. LONDON, November 22. The Moscow newspaper, “Pravda,” says the situation on the Moscow front is more serious than last month, and it will .be necessary for the Russians still further to increase their strong resistance. The (Germans are attempting to take Moscow at all costs in order to escape the winter cold. The Russians are stronger than last month arid must hold the enemy now and inflict such a blow that the enemy will be defeated. The German High Command claims the capture of Rostov-on-Don after violent fighting. The “Red Star” says that in the new

offensive against Rostov the Germans hurled in large forces, including a great number of vehicles, specially tanks. The defenders are fighting courageously, but are being forced to retreat under pressure of numerically superior forces. The Germans are sustaining heavy casualties, and in two days lost more than 50 tanks, large numbers of infantry and much artillery.

The Stockholm newspaper “Svenskadagbladet’s” Berlin correspondent says the war in the east is gradually developing int 6 a war of attrition, and the German military authorities are now engaged in working out details for an attack against the Caucasus. Troops are being specially trained for mountain warfare.

Losses in Russia are particularly heavy among German officers, says the correspondent. Many members of historic families have fallen on the battlefields. The German forces on the Moscow front have been powerfully reinforced, particularly with artillery. The German objective is still the encirclement of Moscow, but progress is dangerously slow in proportion 'to the ■ losses.