ON CENTRAL FRONT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 59, 3 December 1941, Page 7

ON CENTRAL FRONT

Soviet Counter-Attack In Tula Sector (Received December 2, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 1. • The latest Soviet communique reports that fighting continued on all fronts yesterday and last night, with the destruction, particularly by the air force, of large quantities of German war material of every description, including scores of tanks and 100 army lorries. During the last two days thousands of casualties have been inflicted on the enemy. „ « Moscow “Pravda" says the enemy was unable to withstand the latest Soviet onslaught in the Tula sector, south-west of Moscow, and was ousted by noou yesterday from three villages. The Germans hurried back iu disorder. They sustained considerable losses of men and equipment, and have passed to the defensive in this sector. “Pravda” also reports fierce fighting in the Kalinin direction, north-west of Moscow, on Saturday and yesterday. The enemy threw in fresh forces and launched counter-attacks, trying to halt the Russian advance. Specially tense engagements were- fought in the area around Kalinin city, where the Germans used tanks. The Russians beat off all counter-attacks and annihilated nearly 5k infantry companies, as well as three mine-thrower batteries. The Germans on Friday lost 2200 in killed and wounded. Claim By Germans. A Berlin communique claims that German infantry and tank units are pressing further forward against Moscow. The military spokesman in Berlin said that the most advanced Germans attacking Moscow can now see the centre of the capital “with the aid of good field-glasses.” The battle for Moscow, he said, had developed very much in German favour in the past two days. Details of the terrific damage which the Red Air Force has inflicted on tlie German forces are contained in a supplementary Soviet communique, which states that Russian planes on Sunday destroyed and put out of action 216 tanks, 600 carts, 1500 motor-vehicles carrying troops and supplies, 32 field guns, 30 anti-tank guns and mortars, 400 cars carrying military equipment, and Jarge fuel dumps, and routed at least three infantry regiments. It As reasonable to surmise that it was during the Russian advance beyond Rostov that a large part of this damage was inflicted, though, as is indicated in the communique, the enemy’s continued fierce attacks on the central front have also been costing him dear.