FURIOUS CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1941, Page 5

FURIOUS CONFLICT

RAGING ON THE MOSCOW FRONT Position Critical in Tula Region RUSSIAN PROGRESS IN SOUTH GREAT NEW EFFORT BY ENEMY EXPECTED LONDON, December 7. In spite of their enormous and ever-mounting losses in men and material the Germans do not seem to be relaxing in their efforts to take Moscow. There is no indication that the defences of the capital have been penetrated at any vital point, but the position is critical in the vicinity of Tula, 100 miles south of Moscow, where the Germans claim to be astride the Tula-Moscow highway. Tula is said to be in danger of encirclement. Soviet Stormovik dive-bombers in the last twelve days have destroyed 82 German aircraft and 147 enemy tanks, and have wiped out thousands of enemy troops. Continued progress by the Russians is‘reported in their pursuit of the retreating German armies in Southern Russia. A Kuibyshev spokesman, in a broadcast, said the Germans would attempt at any cost to recapture Rostov, both for reasons, of prestige and on account of their desperate need of Caucasian oil. The Russians, said the spokesman, had pushed westward 75 miles. Fierce battles were in prospect, but the Red Army was ready.