TIDE STILL STEMMED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 7, 20 October 1941, Page 5

TIDE STILL STEMMED

NAZI PUSH ON MOSCOW INCREASE IN PRESSURE OFFENSIVE AT OTHER POINTS (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. The Red Army is still stemming the German advance toward Moscow, and succeeded in holding the main roads to the capital. During the last 24 hours, despite enormous losses, the enemy in* creased his pressure, consequently the defence has become more difficult; but the Soviet Air Force is operating successfully against the reserves which the enemy brought up. The Soviet Army newspaper “Red Star” says that the Germans are now trying to develop an offensive north of Kalinin, but occupied only a few pbints at heavy cost. The Moscow newspaper “Pravda,” in a dispatch from a correspondent near Orel, saying that the Germans have concentrated two tank divisions and several in fantry battalions near Orel and are showing extreme nervousness, making new attacks periodically, but are being gradually worn down. The Germans had counted on a quick advance, but Russian resistance has broken down their plan. Meanwhile, thousands of civilians are working feverishly on the fine from Orel to Tula, building tank traps and field fortifications. A Moscow broadcaster this morning admitted that the Germans had succeeded in driving a wedge into the Russian positions in the Bryansk area, but claim ed that their losses had been very heavy, the battlefield being littered with corpses.