Soviet Forces To Be Doubled

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1941, Page 7

Soviet Forces To Be Doubled

RUSSIANS ACHIEVE LOCAL - SUCCESSES

LONDON, October 7.

There is no fresh news of the big new German offensive on the Eastern Front, though German communiques claim that the operations are proceeding according to plan.

Berlin speaks tonight of a terrific air onslaught from Leningrad to the Black Sea. The only news from Moscow is that the Russians are stubbornly fighting against the twopronged drive towards Moscow. M. Lozovsky, Soviet information director, said: "The offensive is beginning. Hitler has several hundred thousand extra men he wants buried. He will achieve this. Experience has shown that the capture of cities does not mean final victory. The Soviet intends to double all its forces to meet this new thrust." Although a true picture of the front is difficult, sonie local Russian successes are reported" in the vital central sector.

Marshal Timoshenko's forces have made a series of drives against panzer wedges protruding into Russian positions. In one area Russian planes accounted for '62 out of 81 enemy tanks. In another, enemy tanks pushed through the Russian lines, but bottles of petrol hurled by infantrymen set ten on fire.

In the central sector, where the Germans are driving at points north and south of Smolensk, there is no sign of any slackening of German pressure. These are the thrusts aimed at Moscow. 200 miles away.

The "Red Star" says that Hitler is straining every nerve to achieve a spectacular success before winter, and he has brought from the occupied territories all the war materials he can spare. His tank columns include many from Belgium, Holland, and France. "He has collected everything in his endeavour to break through," the paper adds. 'We must not close our eyes to the gravity of the moment, but our resistance is stubborn. The

enemy are facing a long war that will lead to their defeat."

In the big battle on the northern shores on the Sea of Azov the Germans claim to have captured the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk, but so far there is no confirmation of this. Both are in the Ukraine, and Mariupol is only 30 miles east of the frontier between the Ukraine and the north Caucasus. Mariupol is 100 miles west of Rostov.

The Russian fleet in the Sea of Azov has played an important part in holding up and severely handling a German division at Genichesk, just north of the Crimea. In the Perekop isthmus the German losses are said to be very heavy.

Around Leningrad the Russian position continues to be much easier.