Huns Hitting With Terrific Power

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 238, 8 October 1941, Page 7

Huns Hitting With Terrific Power

TANKS AND BOMBERS

Non-stop Raids On Russian Communications And Supplies

(United Press Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 7. No amount of attention to Russian local counter-attacks, however gallantly and efficiently carried out, can disguise the dangerous fact that the Germans are hitting with tremendous power, not only against the Russians weak spots, which are principally on the southern front, but also against Marshal 1 imoshenko s powerfully held positions on the central front, where panzer wedges are reported to be driving in, with continuous air-bombing support.

1 D 7*l Germans have thrown in everything they possess," said the Ked btar, Soviet military journal. "They have brought from the occupied countries all the war material that can be spared, and the tank columns include many from Holland, Belgium and France.

Neither the Russians nor the Germans mention place names in the movements either directly or indirectly aimed against Moscow, but Italian sources say great battles are raging along the Ugra Kiver, between Viazma and Kaluga, and between Kaluga and' Orel.

Concentrated Attacks On Trains A feature of the Germans' claims on the southern and central fronts is the tremendous damage inflicted by the Luftwaffe against Russian communications. The German news agency states that 2 1 trains were destroyed yesterday, and also direct hits derailed 110 trains laden with troops and supplies.

The Times correspondent on the German frontier says the Germans destroy Russian railway material without compunction because it is broad-gauged and therefore useless as booty, while most of the Russian roiling stock is obsolete and cumbersome and hence of no value to the Germans. If the rolling stock in the Kharkov area was completely knocked out this would mean that eight main traffic lines diverging from Kharkov would be put out of action. The Germans claim that these tactics have already cut off Marshal Budenny's chief tank supply from Kharkov, forcing him to obtain renewals from distant sources.

"Tlj® Times correspondent on the German frontier adds that Marshal Budenny has launched a fierce counter-attack from Kursk, 330 miles south-west of Moscow, aiming primarily to hold up the main German advance and secondarily to relieve the increasing pressure on Kharkov. Twelve Rumanian Generals Shot According to authoritative Rumanian sources in Istanbul, twelve Rumanian generals have been shot for signing a joint memorandum to General Antonescu protesting against further participation in the war against Russia. The generals included three recalled from active service on the Odessa front*