BITTER FIGHTING BREAKS OUT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23493, 22 November 1941, Page 9

BITTER FIGHTING BREAKS OUT

Ground Hardens On Eastern Front RED ARMY HOLDS NEW ENEMY THRUSTS ♦ (united press association—copyright.) (Received November 21, 11,10 p.m.) LONDON, November 21. With cold, dry weather hardening the ground, more bitter fighting has broken out all along the Eastern Front. The Russian communique issued at midday to-day speaks of battles throughout the night and says that on the southern front, presumably at Rostov, which bars the way to an advance into the Caucasus from the north, the Germans lost 1300 men in one day’s fighting, in addition to 215 lorries, 32 tanks, and a large number of guns. Earlier messages reported that the Germans launched their new offensive against Moscow four days ago with synchronised attacks in the Kalinin, Volokolamsk, and Tula areas, north-west, west-north-west, and south of the capital. » The drive against Tula has been held, and in the Kalinin and Volokolamsk areas the Germans have caused no change in the positions, in spite of particularly fierce fighting. The only news about the Crimea this morning is i the Moscow radio’s statement that the Germans continue to hold the offensive and that at Sebastopol the Russians are holding all attacks. On the Leningrad front the Russians are continuing their counter-attacks and in two sectors the Germans have been forced to draw back. The Russian Air Force is giving strong support to the city's defences.

Pitched battles are developing at strategic points on the Tula front, says the Tass News Agency. The enemy in many places has been forced back on the defensive. Soviet infantry strongly attacked a group of German tanks and mechanised units which drove a wedge into the Russian lines. The midnight Russian communique states: “There was fighting on: all fronts on November 20. It was particularly fierce in the Rostov, Volokolamsk and Tula sectors. “Our ships in the Barents Sea sank three enemy transports of a total tonnage of 1900 and also a 5000-ton tanker. Our ships in the Bla?k Sea sank a 9000-ton tanker. “Our air force on the central and southern fronts, on November 19, destroyed 30 tanks, more than 100 lorries laden with infantry and ammunition, and also 140 waggons with mill- ■ tary equipment. It also annihilated two cavalry squadrons, and one infantry battalion." An earlier communique said: “The German High Command has again is--100,000 MINERS IDLE U.S. COAL MINES STRIKE TROOPS NOW STANDING BY (Received November 21, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 20. One hundred thousand men are idle as a result of the coal mines strike. Troops are standing by for duty in the coalfields, and the situation is becoming increasingly serious. The complete closure of all the mines in Pennsylvania is expected by the week-end unless the Government intervenes. ; United States defence officials inWashington hinted to-night, as reports came in of shootings in the coal strike and of spreading sympathy with the strikers in the commercial collieries, that legislation would be submitted promptly for the Government seizure of the closed mines, authorising Federal operation of them and forbidding labour leaders or pickets from interfering with production. A defence spokesman said that 52,000 soldiers were standing by ready to intervene if necessary, but the Government did not want to use troops. The Government, however, would not give in. Three men were shot, but not seriously, in a fresh outburst of violence on the Fayette County coalfields. Nonstrikers attempting to go to work clashed with pickets and about 109 shots were fired. Later a fusillade of shots struck the mine superintendent’s motor-car when he drove through the picket lines, but he escaped injury. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 miners have walked out of the commercial colleries in sympathy with the 53,000 strikers from the “captive” mines. The outlook for a settlement at present is poor. The convention of the Congress of Industrial Organisations at Detroit passed a resolution that the C.1.0. should utilise to the utmost degree the Government’s facilities for mediation, and do all in its power to co-operate with the Government and industry to achieve maximum defence production. The convention appealed to the Government and to industry to recognise Labour’s participation in the formulation and administration of the nations policies, which was essential in the endeavour to defeat Hitlerism. MORE TROOPS FOR SINGAPORE (Received November 21, 10.50 p.m.) SINGAPORE, November 20, Further Australian reinforcements, officially described as substantial, have arrived at Singapore. They received the news of the Middle East offensive with much enthusiasm.

sued the lie stating that Soviet troops have been evacuated from Kerch under pressure of the German advance, and that the Germans inflictedheavy losses on Soviet troops and on the Soviet Navy. “This is a lie. The facts are that Soviet troops evacuated Kerch according to an order by the Soviet. High Command, in order to give our troops better defence positions against the invader. The evacuation was carried out in absolute order. All arms and every scrap Of war material, in addition to valuable property, were removed before the evacuation. “The German casualties in the battle • for Kerch were 20,000 killed, with the loss of 130 tanks, a considerable quantity of war material and vehicles, and 40 aeroplanes.'* The continued Russian resistance" ie causing Germany so much anxiety; according to a message to Zurich from Berlin, that Goebbels, the Propaganda Minister, has sent a special representative on tour throughout Germany, explaining at mass meetings the "resistance and will of the Russians.** JAPAN FACES • 06 j »1 uk f. ' CRISIS Government’s Plans Defined NATIONAL POLICY TO GO ON (Received November 21, ll p.m.) LONDON. November 20.’ Japan' is determined to push on with her national policy. The Prime Minister (General Tojo) made this statement at the conclusion of the special session of the Diet, which lasted five days. “Backed up by the unshakeable determination of the people as demonstrated by this session of the Diet, tha Government is planning to redouble its efforts to cope with the unprecedented crisis,” said General Tojo. The Tokyo radio to-night described the position in the Far East as grave. More than a dozen measures designed to strengthen Japan’s economy on a war basis have been passed by tha Diet. During the debate, Ministers emphasised the danger of air raids, to. which Japanese cities, on account ot the inflammable nature of dwellings, would be particularly susceptible. General Tojo said that Japan stood to-day at the greatest crisis in her history. He was replying to a suggestion that railway revenue should not be diverted, owing to the large number of serious railway accidents recently. The Minister for Finance (Mr Okinobu Kaya) said that Japanese assets frozen in America, the British Empire, and the Netherlands East Indies, totalled £53,000,000. Assets of those countries frozen in Japan totalled £23,500,000. General Tojo explained to a committee of the House of Peers that a large amount of reserve funds were being kept because Japan was confronted with an unprecedented crisis. She literally stood at the crossroads and must rise or fall. Addressing a committee of the Lower House, Major-General Kenryo Sato expressed the opinion that Japan’s next war if it occurred would be aimed at breaking anti-Japanese encirclement and would be on the greatest scale. Therefore it was urgently necessary that the Japanese people should promote the fighting spirit. . Major-General Sato warned the committee that it would be impossible to shut out completely enemy aircraft which would undoubtedly bomb Japanese wooden houses in an effort to break the people’s morale. Therefore Japan should preserve the greatest composure irrespective of eventualities. The Japanese Foreign Minister (Mr Togo) saw the Emperor to-day. It is believed that he reported on the progress of the Washington talks. The Japanese envoy to Washington (Mr Kurusu) is still negotiating with United States representatives. He said last night that another conference might be requested after the Japanese representatives had considered the information they had obtained. The Japanese Ambassador (Admiral Nomura) said another conference might be sought with the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) after the subjects raised had been considered.