NEW RUSSIAN ARMES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1942, Page 4

NEW RUSSIAN ARMES

INDICATIONS OF INCREASING SOVIET PRESSURE Enemy Reported To Be Evacuating Mojaisk GREAT IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO BATTLE (By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. Referring to growing Russian reserves, the Moscow radio mentioned a certain unit from the Transbaikal region whose training included practice with British tanks and who are now in British tanks, inflicting heavy blows against the enemy. The Soviet people are building up one army after another, creating on the expanses of the Steppes and the mountains of the Caucasus and Urals squadrons, regiments and divisions and finally whole army corps. One unit in operation on the Moscow front underwent all its training in the open fields, with rsal pillboxes and earth fortifications.

According to the Kuibyshev radio, the Russians have entered Kharkov. Red Guards have now cleared the enemy from the remaining villages in the Tula region. Stubborn fighting occurred at some places. Over eleven hundred German officers and men were killed during fighting for one village alone. The “Izvestia” reports that Soviet troops armed with automatic rifles stormed and captured a German stronghold. Only three of the three hundred defenders survived.

Russian pilots report that the Germans are retreating from Mojaisk and streaming to the west. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent says General Zhukov has thrown in tank and cavalry divisions in staggering numbers against Mojaisk, which is being continuously battered by heavy artillery from the east and south-east. The correspondent adds that crack German armies, estimated at 150,000 picked men, once destined to occupy Moscow are evacuating Mojaisk, which is the lynch pin of Hitler’s winter line.

The “Red Star” says the outcome of the whole Russian campaign depends on the battle for Mojaisk.