ALL GERMAN ATTACKS BROKEN BY RUSSIANS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 291, 9 December 1941, Page 8

ALL GERMAN ATTACKS BROKEN BY RUSSIANS

RED AIR MASTERY Winter Dominating War On Eastern Front U.P.-A. and British Wireless. Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 8. The Russians are taking the initiative on the Moscow front after having brought all German attacks to a i standstill, says a Kuibyshev statement, which £dds, that the Russian Air Force was once again on top in the Moscow region, where it is taking great toll of German lanks. "Another heartening sign is the heavy losses being inflicted on the enemy," adds the statement. "At the same time we must not forget that the Russians are also suffering great losses." The Berlin radio stated: "Only with the utmost ruthlessness and lack of consideration for life can we advance against Moscow." German military authorities state that future operations on the Russian front will be at the mercy of the winter. Over wide areas of the front fighting is being reduced to local actions. The Moscow newspaper Pravda says the Russians have driven the enemy from the whole length of the Serpukhov-Tula highway, south of Moscow. The Germans are retreating south-eastward, abandoning tanks, lorries and arms. The latest Russian communique states: "Our troops yesterday fought battles with the enemy on all fronts. In a number of sectors on the central front our troops advanced, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy in men and material." Soviet Advance in Ukraine Advanced Russian units are fighting at Kuibishevo, sft. jftiles northwest of Mariupol; sayg the Daily Telegraph's Stockholm correspondent. A second Russian force is fighting for possession of Kaievka and a third is advancing north against Stalino. The Rusians have now advanced 75 miles from Rostov. The Germans have withdrawn their forces from the Voroshilovgrad area and concentrated all available strength in the Stalino region. The German threat against Moscow from the south developed as the Germans closed around Tula after the arrival of reinforcements, including powerful armoured forces from southern sectors, probably the OrelKurst region, where, Berlin claims, a German push led to the occupation of Otsensk, Novisil and Livny, says The Times Stockholm correspondent. However, the Russians claim that after an offensive lasting three week's, the Germans are nowhere in sight of capturing Moscow. Counterattacks north of Maloyaroslavets, south-west of Moscow, have thrown back the Germans across the Naro River. Fate of German Generals In the Leningrad sector the Russians claim to have captured a German general and his staff. Vichy radio says the Germans defeated a Russian attempt, supported by motor boats, to attack Kerch, m the Crimea. A Zurich message says it is reported from Berlin that General Otto von Krfes, who was chief of staff of von Leeb's army corps, and seven of vOtt Kries' staff have been killed.; The Moscow newspaper Izvestia mentions a point <on the Moscow front where peasants found wounded .Gfgnmans fatally . shot in the back— by their'own comrades—i Jymg> abandoned in ; field- dressing; stations.' .