PURSUIT OF GERMANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1941, Page 5

PURSUIT OF GERMANS

CONTINUED IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA Cossacks Pressing Hard on Heels of Fugitives SITUATION ON MOSCOW FRONT STILL GRAVE SOVIET SUCCESSES AT SOME POINTS LONDON, December 1. In. Russia, Marshal Timoshenko’s armies are continuing their hot pursuit of General von Kleist’s forces west of Rostov. A famous Cossack corps which was among the first to re-enter Rostov is pressing hard on the heels of the retreating Germans, who are reported to be now 110 miles west of Rostov. Large numbers of rifles were captured by the Russians in Rostov. The significance of this, it is pointed out, is that rifles do not usually figure in booty unless the enemy is fleeing in disorder. Marshal Timoshenko threw in fresh troops north of Rostov to complete the rout of the enemy. A Berlin spokesman has admitted that the Germans in Rostov were overwhelmed by superior Russian forces, the latter being assisted by partisans in the city. A Moscow message today said that before leaving Rostov, the Germans massacred many innocent Russian citizens, Marshal Timoshenko’s great victory is having its repercussions on the Moscow froM, where the Russians are fighting back with renewed vigour, but the threat to the capital is still grave. It is admitted by the Russians that one enemy spearhead is within 36 miles of Moscow, but it is added the assault in this sector appears to be wearing itself out. In the Tula sector the Russians launched a surprise counterattack and threw the Germans back from a vital railway link between Moscow and the Caucasus. The enemy in this area are still retreating.

HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES OF MEN AND MATERIAL. DESTRUCTIVE PART PLAYED BY AIR FORCE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.52 a.m.) RUGBY, December 1. The latest Soviet communique reports continued fighting on all fronts yesterday and last night with the destruction, particularly by the Air Force, of large quantities of German war material of every description, including scores of tanks, and one hundred army lorries and the infliction, during the last two days, of thousands of casualties on the enemy. The Russian claims to have captured thousands of rifles at Rostov are regarded in competent military quarters as even more important than the capture of guns, as they indicate that the Germans were unable to escape even by sacrificing their heavy equipment.

DAWN ATTACK LAUNCHED BY RUSSIANS. ENEMY RETREAT IN TULA SECTOR. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, December 1. The “Pravda” says Soviet forces counter-attacked at dawn on Sunday north-west of Tula and the enemy is retreating westward. GERMAN CLAIMS (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON. December 1. A Berlin communique states: “The enemy in the Rostov area has continued counter-attacks, regardless of losses in men and material, “Our infantry and tank units are pressing further forward against Moscow.”