Huns Hurled Back In Tula Sector

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 285, 2 December 1941, Page 7

Huns Hurled Back In Tula Sector

SOVIET ONSLAUGHT

Russians Pursuing Fleeing Germans West Of Rostov

(United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, December 1. The Moscow newspaper Pravda states that Soviet troops counter-attacked at dawn on Sunday north-west of Tula and the enemy is retreating westward. Describing the Russian counter-attack in this sector, Pravda says the enemy unable to withstand the Soviet onslaught, was ousted by noon from three villages. The Germans hurried back in disorder. 1 hey sustained considerable losses in men and equipment and passed to the defensive in this sector. 180 re f°rts fierce fighting in the Kalinin direction, over 1 00 miles north-west of Moscow, on Saturday and Sunday. The enemy threw in fresh forces and launched counter-attacks, trying to halt the Russian advance. Especially tense engagements were fought ,n the area of Kalinin city, where the Germans used tanks. Ihe Russians beat off all the counter-attacks and annihilated nearly 54 infantry companies and three mine-thrower batteries. The Germans on Friday lost 2200 killed and wounded. Enemy Harried By Guerillas The German military spokesman admitted the withdrawal from Rostov in the face of enemy superiority in numbers," and added that the activity of Soviet partisan forces had also forced the Germans to retire to better positions in order to avoid unnecessary losses. • o ravda sa y s that after ousting the Germans from Rostov the Russians on Sunday morning continued their pursuit. A German attempt to fight rearguard engagements failed. Red Army forces are vigorously pushing on, ruthlessly annihilating the invaders and destroying equipment. Russian cavalry, which were among the first to penetrate Rostov, are now leading the pursuing forces. The battlefields are littered with hundreds of German dead and the Russians have taken a tremendous amount of booty, particularly tanks and lorries. The Red Air Force has inflicted heavy losses, including the destruction of 147 tanks. The Russians fighting the enemy wedged into the Donetz Basin, launched an offensive on Sunday Iheir advance is developing successfully.