"All-Out" Thrusts Against Moscow

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 279, 25 November 1941, Page 7

"All-Out" Thrusts Against Moscow

HUGE TANK FORCES

Russians Recover Territory In Ukraine; Heavy Axis Losses ' L nilcd Press Association.—Copyright.— Rcc\ I p.in * LONDON. November 24. Fort} German divisions, including half of all the tanks available to the High Command, are being thrown into the "all-out'* offensive against Moscow, says the Soviet Army newspaper Red Star. The Russians are being slowly pushed back at a number of points. |^ eav y snow has fallen on the Moscow front and Moscow itself is covered deep in snow. The Russians frustrated German attacks in the region of Volkhov and then spiritedly charged and recaptured several settlements and pursued the enemy for several miles. Similar successes are reported at Tikhvin. east of Leningrad. The Moscow radio reports that after fierce fighting the Russians recaptured Krasnayavisherka. which is an important village north-east of Novgorod. It was the headquarters of the 30th regiment of the 18th German motorised division. The Russians smashed through three lines of German trenches before reaching the village, and 200 Germans were killed. After a comparative lull fierce fighting is occurring again in the Crimea. It is particularly severe on the right flank, where the enemy has concentrated large forces. One Soviet unit has cut a strategically important road and with resolute counter-attacks is keeping the enemy at bay. The German communique says that attacks in the central sector of the eastern front gained fresh ground. After bitter fighting the German Army recaptured Solnechnayagora. Invaders' Position insecure in Donetz The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that, apart from whether the invaders succeed in forcing the Don near Rostov, their position in the Donetz Basin is not secure, but is disrupted by strong, aggressive Russian forces operating in the Voroshilovgrad region, and also from the hills eastward of Orjonikidze and elsewhere. The Russians in this region during the week-end recovered about 1000 square miles of territory and inflicted heavy losses on the Italians and Germans, and possibly also on the Hungarians. The Kuibyshev (Semara) radio declared that the Germans are throwing in further tanks, planes and infantry into the battle for Tula in an effort to exploit their penetration into the rear of the Russian fighting lines. The fighting is proceeding with increasing ferocity. The Russians are counter-attacking and inflicting heavy losses. Planes from both sides are vigorously supporting the land operations, despite bad weather.