Moscow Will Repel "Brutal Invader"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 247, 18 October 1941, Page 7

Moscow Will Repel "Brutal Invader"

GRIMLY DETERMINED Leningrad Driving Enemy From Fortified Positions i (United Press Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 17. The Moscow radio stated that Moscow is on guard ready to repel the brutal invader. Everywhere there is grim resolution and determination among the defenders of Moscow to hold the city. Home Guards have been trained, and reserves are ceaselessly marching to the front line. are continuously patrolling \he skies over our city," the Moscow newspaper Izvestia stated. "In any advance on Moscow the Germans will be obliged to pass, over mountains of their own dead. Hundreds of thousands of Russians are holding out to the last, giving their lives unflinchingly in order to hold their positions. They are fighting against heavy odds, and the Germans are paying a terrible price for every inch of ground they take." Meanwhile, the defenders of Leningrad continue to more ihan hold their own. The Moscow radio claims that Russian artillery is heavily ihelling vital German communications. A Leningrad announcer in a broadcast relayed to Moscow 'aid: ' Citizens of Moscow, take heart from us. Hitler in September gave the order to take Leningrad within three days, but for three weeks it is we who have been attacking. We are driving the Gerpnans from one fortified point after another. The Fascists ire hard pressing to Moscow, but they will never see Moscow. Let us double our strength and achieve victory whatever the cost." The Vichy radio, which stated that the Germans aTe now 37 miles from Moscow, quoted a report from Berlin that the Germans will not consider Moscow an open town. The Wilhelmitrasse officially said that the Germans had captured an important industrial district south-westwards of Moscow and also extensive lignite fields, and a power station serving the Moscow industrial trea. German Advance Slowed Down The newspaper Pravda declares that the Russians concentrated on the approaches to Moscow have somewhat slowed down the pace of the enemy's advance, and added that the Russians vere fighting savagely on the central front and holding their battle ftnes stubbornly. TTiey had broken German thrusts into the defences in the Viazma and Kalinin sectors.

Th® German plan to destroy the Russian forces in the SflJßMlsk area has been frustrated, and the Russians have evaded :he encircling move and' rejoined their main Reinforcements constantly arriving on the Kalinin front include many workers from Kalinin factories.

"The latest German communique repeats that the city and harbour of Odessa have been taken, and says that German, Italian, Hungarian and Slovak troops continue the pursuit of the beaten -°e between the Sea of Azov and the Donetz Basin. The communique adds that other operations on the eastern front are proceeding according to plan.

x i r I! L a ontative ly Btaled tllat the British military mission Aas left Moscow for new headquarters. The Press Association understands that the British Ambassador to Moscow, Sir Stafford Cripps, and also the British diplomatic mission has left Moscow.

Severe losses on both sides are recorded in the Russian night communique, which states that during Thursday fighting was in progress along the whole front and was particularly intense in ihe western direction. In the stubborn battles on the western front both sides are suffering severe losses. During Wednesday 43 German planes were destroyed. The Soviet lost 28.