BAYONET CHARGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1941, Page 5

BAYONET CHARGES

IN CAPTURE OF KALININ VIGOROUS RUSSIAN ATTACK DRIVEN HOME. STRONG DEFENCES STORMED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. The final Russian attack,' leading to tho recapture of Kalinin, culminated in hand-to-hand fighting and bayonet charges. General Yuskevich’s troops first liberated 35 populated points and, before the Germans had time to recover, the Russians launched an attack against the city itself and broke through powerful defences, after which violent street fighting occured. The Germans began a disorderly retreat westwards, abandoning arms, ammunition and equipment. i The Moscow radio says the Germans had built several strongly fortified lines at Kalinm and had made other preparations, suggesting that they intended to remain in the city throughout the winter. The Moscow radio also reports that the Germans are retreating speedily south-westwards from Klin. As a result of the fighting in the Klin area, between December 6 and 14, General Lilushenko’s troops alone captured 158 tanks, 28’ armoured cars, 182 guns, 356 machine-guns, 750 motor-cycles, several thousand shells, 25,000 mines, 3,000,000 cartridges and much other equipment. The Russians continue to pursue the Germans near Livny, Yefremov and Yelets and have liberated 111 points.