NO BIG ADVANCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 5, 17 October 1941, Page 5

NO BIG ADVANCES

GERMANS ON CENTRAL FRONT. NO PROGRESS TOWARD KALINAN HEAVY FIGHTING ELSEWHERE, (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, October 16. Despite the fact that the communique issued at Moscow last night stated that the position in the Central Front had deteriorated, heavy fighting is continuing and according to competent military commentators in London it would not appear that the Germans have made any very big advances in the last 24 hours. It seems possible, however, that the thrust through Azov toward Kalinin has made further progress and that a German advance is taking place from tin 1 direction of Orel toward Kaluga.

It would appear that the battle west of Moscow has reached its crisis and that the Germans are seeking ,a decision in the immediate future. There is no further news in London from Murmansk, Leningrad, Odessa or the Sea of Azov fronts, where the position appears unchanged. The German drive toward Kharkov continues to meet stubborn resistance and does not appear to have made any further appreciable progress. . A Soviet communique issued at mid-day states: “During last night our troops continued to fight along the whole front. Fighting was particularly heavy in the western direction of the front. The Germans continued to throw fresh units into the battle. In the Leningrad area the defenders captured a number of German soldiers of the 68th division. Prisoners reported declining morale of German soldiers in consequence of the stubborn resistance of the Russians. The prisoners also stated that heavy losses had been suffered by them on the Leningrad front.—-British Official Wireless.

THE NORTHERN DRIVE. GERMAN ADVANCE ON VOLGA. FALL OF KALININ CLAIMED. (Rec. 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 15. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” quotes unofficial German reports saying that Kalinin has been captured. This would mean serious progress by the invaders. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” reports that General von Bock’s troops, reinforced by strong units from Marshal von Leeb’s Leningrad armies, occupied Rzhev and then proceeded north-east along the west bank of the Volga to join a second force advancing along the railway from Velikye Luki, Toropets and Torzhok. to the west of Kalinii'. -The Russians, he says, still hold the eastern bank of the Volga between Zubtsov and Kalinin. The Volga about here is 150 yards wide, with marshes on both sides.

The correspondent adds tnat the Germans are including in the number of prisoners they claim to have taken many ’ peasants and civilian workers whom they are holding as hostages against the recurrent sabotage and guerilla warfare behind the German lines. The Germans are shooting 10 hostages for every act of sabotageagainst the supply lines of military units.

Marshal Timoshenko is reported to have sent 10 divisions of reserves to the Volga line to check the northern arm of th’e pincers movement against Moscow.

Panzer divisions, the correspondent glso says, have forced a way through Mtsenslc and are now approaching Tula.

“Pravda’s” war correspondent says that German forces on the Vyazma front have clashed with fresh Russian reinforcements whose strength is growing as supply trains and lorries carrying ammunition and fuel stream to the front. In night attacks on German aerodromes Russian aeroplanes have dropped bombs each weighing more than 10001 b, wrecking. many aeroplanes and buildings. Soviet airmen have also set fire to enemy troop trains and also a large oil depot for feeding German tank columns operating north-east of Smolensk. A Hungarian communique claims the capture of “further important points” on the) Donets river. It adds that unfavourable weather and damage to communications are slowing down the defeat of the enemy west of the Donets river.