NAZIS CLAIMED THWARTED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 42, 13 November 1941, Page 7

NAZIS CLAIMED THWARTED

Present Offensive On Moscow

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received November 13, 12.5 a.m.)

LONDON, November 12. The German spearheads driving against Moscow- are still 02 miles from the capital, states the British Umtfed Pi-ess correspondent in Moscow. The last few miles to the Kremlin are particularly difficult, be says. It is no exaggeration to say that the whole terrain before the fortress-of Moscow is one vast minefield. The Soviet’s main ally is the bad weather; the terrain is almost impassable. • The admittedly serious character of the fighting south of Tula, the southern bastion of Moscow’s defences, is described by a ' Russian agency message. The German pressure on Tula, it says, has increased following stubborn attacks on the Russian units south-east and north-east of the town. The Russians have been successfully countering these attacks. One unit, in fact, during the past few days has killed about 5000 officers and men, capturing guns and much ammunition and material. Other reports from Kuibyshev say that a series of Russian local successes have paralyzed the latest German offensive against Moscow. The Russians are now preparing winter shelters, and not too soon, as the temperature is under zero. The Germans are reported to be continuing to move up large tank forces in the direction of Tula and the Russian air force is delivering heavy blows on the reinforcements. •Concealed Tank Lairs.

German correspondents on the Moscow front say that the intricate fortifications protecting Moscow , include underground garages from which tanks and armoured cars sally out to attack and then swiftly go to earth if the counter-measures become too strong. The entrances of the subterranean burrows are masterfully camouflaged. The garages include extensive shops for the maintenance and even assembly of armoured vehicles.

A correspondent adds: “Should we force a way through the defences, the concealed tanks will probably remain underground till the main forces have passed on before coming to the surface with the object of driving us out again.”