HEARTENING SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1941, Page 5

HEARTENING SUCCESS

SOVIET COUNTERSTROKE IN DONETZ BASIN

GERMANS MAY BE PINCHED AGAINST DON. VON KLEIST’S FORCES BADLY MAULED. LONDON, November 26. Reuter’s correspondent at Kuibyshev says that if the Soviet advance in the Donetz Basin continues the Germans may be pinched against the Don River. The Germans, so far, have failed to cross the river, despite Berlin claims to have established a bridgehead. Thus the repulse of General von Kleist’s corps northward of Rostov means a serious weakening of the German forces, both in numbers and strategically. Von Kleist, after failing to come round behind Rostov on the Novocherkask front, tried a new direction, but it is obvious that with a large section of his forces now driven back and badly mauled, he will have to regroup his units. This heartening Soviet success comes at the right time, militarily and psychologically. The Soviet spokesman, M. Lozovsky, said the present Russian offensive in the Rostov area would not be the last r , and “The Times” described it as “an impressive proof of sustained fighting power,” LYING CLAIM MADE BY THE GERMANS. INROADS ON RUSSIAN PRODUCTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 26. The Soviet spokesman, M. Lozovsky, said that the German claim to have captured 75 per cent of Soviet production was a lie. “Production was greatly increased during the three-Five-Year Plans,” he said, “and new production centres were established deep in the interior. Furthermore no important industrial towns have fallen intact into German ' hands. We evacuated them, and are now re-erecting the plants. Production is beginning.”