FINAL ASSAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 January 1942, Page 3

FINAL ASSAULT

POWERFUL DEFENCES STORMED ORDERS TO GERMAN TROOPS. TOLD TO HOLD MOJAISK AT ALL COSTS. LONDON, January 21. Describing the capture of Mojaisk, a Tass agency correspondent says that after storming German defence linos consisting of a great number of machine-gun nests, pillboxes and fortified trenches, the Soviet infantry broke through to the town's south-western suburbs, beating off all enemy coun-ter-attacks. Simultaneously, another Soviet infantry unit, after annihilating. German automatic riflemen firing from the houses, penetrated the northern suburbs. Fierce fighting followed but the Soviet forces rapidly advanced to the centre of the town and hoisted the Red Flag on the Town Hall. The Germans suffered enormous losses of men and equipment, the streets of the town being littered with abandoned guns, machine-guns, lorries and other arms. German prisoners captured at Mojaisk said the defenders were ordered to hold the town at all costs. Each house was a fortress. The Germans had huge stocks of ammunition in Mojaisk which they were unable to move. The Germans fired every village between Mojaisk and the former front

line, which is 25 miles away. Wells were poisoned in some villages. Mine detectors are clearing up the roads before the Russian forces.

Many graves in the Mojaisk area bear the names of the French legionaries recruited by the Fascist politician, M. Dorit. They fought in German uniforms and were buried under German crosses, having fallen in the cause of France’s enemies.

In addition to the capture of Mojaisk, a Soviet communique announces the capture of the town of Ostashevo, in the Valdai Hilte, and midway between Leningrad- and Smolensk. Continued harassing of the enemy by the Red Air Force is reported. A communique states: “On January 19 units of our air force destroyed 30 tanks, two armoured cars, more than 730 motor-cars with troops and war materials, 12 guns and their crews, and six anti-aircraft and machine-gun positions. They also set on fire two railway trains and destroyed 21 wagons. Moreover. 7 battalions of enemy infantry were dispersed and partly annihilated.”