DRIVE ON MOSCOW

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 8, 21 October 1941, Page 5

DRIVE ON MOSCOW

GATHERING FRESH MOMENTUM. VERY STUBBORN BATTLES STATE OF SIEGE DECLARED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, October 20. As the onslaught toward Moscow gathers fresh momentum from redoubled German efforts, M. Stalin has declared a state of siege in the capital and the areas surrounding it. \ Messages from Moscow confirm reports published yesterday of a strong German thrust from Vyazma, and last night’s Russian communique speaks of particularly stubborn battles in the directions of Mozhaisk, 05 miles west of the capital, and Malo Yaroslavets, the same distance south-west of Moscow. This is the first time Malo Yaroslavets has been mentioned in a Russian communique and it indicates that the Germans have made some progress in their drive from the south. It is 35 miles north of Kaluga, the capture of which was claimed by'the Germans some days ago.

The Russians say that in both these areas fierce German attacks have been beaten off, and they speak of counterattacks by their troops at various points of the front iine. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that' the Germans are throwing in between 15,000 and 20,000 tanks in their third assault against Moscow’s defences. Four panzer armies, each consisting of nearly 5000 tanks, are massed between Kalinin, on the northern arm of the pincers movement, and Orel on the southern arm.

According to the Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Express,” panzer columns after passing by Tula, due south of the capital, pushed to Ryazan, 120, miles south-east, and occupied long sections of the road between these towns; but Marshal Timoshenko threw into battle several hundred tanks which first checked the advance of German infantry and artillery and then, after gigantic tank battles, forced the Germans to retreat.

The Germans have made no further progress in their drive along the Perekop Isthmus, leading to the Crimea, Whether the troops released by the occupation of Odessa will be sufficient to invigorate the enemy’s efforts in the south will soon be seen. The Berlin radio says that bitter winter conditions are making big demands on the German and allied troops on the southern front, but the enemy’s resistance has been broken in the entire sector.

Decree Issued in Moscow.

The supreme Defence Coxmcil of the Soviet Union has issued a decree, ‘signed by M. Stalin, declaring a state of siege in Moscow.

The decree says that for security and maintenance of order, Moscow and its environs are under the conti’ol of the Commandant of Moscow (General Sinilov), who controls the troops of the Commissariat of Internal Affairs and volunteer groups. The decree concludes: “Persons breaking this order will be tried immediately by the military, and provocateurs, spies, diversionists, and other enemy agents who appeal to the population to break the order will be shot on the spot.

“The Supreme Defence Council appeals to workers and police to keep calm and orderly and do their utmost to help the Red Army defending Moscow.”

The Moscow radio says that this decree is designed to secure the rear of Moscow’s defences and prevent activities by spies and saboteurs. Another decree forbids pedestrian and vehicular movement in the streets, except by permit, between midnight and 5 a.m.

The Supreme Defence Council has appointed General Zhukov, commanded of the forces, operating 60 to 75 miles from Moscow, and General Artemyev commander of the approaches to Moscow.

In an order of the day, M. Stalin states that Moscow will be defended to the last.

The population is calm and ready to give the Red Army defending Moscow every help.

The “Red Star” claims that the Germans have been expelled from three unnamed towns on the north sector of the central front.

German Plan Foiled.

Russian tanks and rifle units are reported to have frustrated the plans of the commander of the 7th German Division to insert a wedge between the Russian forces operating along the main highway between Kalinin and Moscow, where the Russians threw hack the Germans from one town.

These Russian forces are now stated to be striking against the flank of enemy fortifications holding the Kalinin area.

Round Vyazma, where the Russians still firmly hold the main road to Moscow, the Germans have been attempting flank attacks aimed at driving a wedge into the Russian lines. Referring to these attacks the Moscow radio merely remarked that the enemy’s intentions were frustrated.

Other reports indicate the fury of the fighting in the Bryansk and Orel areas south-west and south of Moscow. The Moscow radio states that in the Bryansk sector the Germans have failed to win the victory they expected and that they, suffered enormous losses.

The Berlin radio denies that the Russians have recaptured Orel and Kalinin, and adds that fresh panzer units are arriving on the central front. Fighting is particularly heavy between Kalinin and Moscow and near Mozhaisk, it says. Dive-bombers are constantly attacking Soviet fortifications along the outer defences of Moscow. There is little news about the fighting on the Leningrad front. The Mos-

cow radio reports stern battles for the possession of an important strategic point, designated as “E," which the Germans had strongly fortified. The Russians eventually manoeuvred behind the German line at night, took advantage of the resultant German confusion, and occupied the point. Swiss dispatches suggest that Marshal Voroshilov is becoming more aggressive. On the other hand, the Berlin radio claims that the Germans on Friday captured 445 strong points on the Leningrad front. Moscow reports that the situation in the Southern Ukraine is still serious. The Germans claim the capture of Taganrog, on the north shore of the Sea of Azov, 65 miles from Rostov, at the mouth of the Don. Fierce fighting is reported in the region, and the Germans are said to have suffffered enormous losses, with no great success.