MOSCOW FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 10

MOSCOW FRONT

DING-DONG BATTLES

VAST SLAUGHTER

ROSTOV READY FOR

EVACUATION

(Rec- 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. Despite the vast slaughter of their troops, the Germans persist in their attack near the suburbs of Tula, south of Moscow, where

fighting continues fiercely.

The Stockholm correspondent of "The Times" says that while the Tula sector is feeling the greatest weight of the German offensive, ding-dong battles continue over the remainder of the Moscow front, but apparently no considerable territorial gains have been made by either side. The Luftwaffe is very active in bombing the battle lines,- and also Moscow, from airfields immediately behind the front lines. Russian long-range artillery is shelling these airfields.

The Germans in the Ukraine are bringing up reinforcements to fill up gaps -which the fierce fighting is making in their ranks. A new Hungarian expeditionary force has arrived in the Ukraine.

The Germans do not substantiate with names their claims that pursuit operations are continuing in the Crimea.

The Turin newspaper "Gazetta del Popolo" reports that the Russians are using large forces of artillery, planes, anti-tank guns, and armoured trains in constantly attacking the Italian forces east of Stalin. It adds that the heavy Italian losses have necessitated reinforcements. The supplying of food and munitions is most difficult.

While Moscow radio states that the Germans in the past twenty-four hours have displayed only slight activity at Rostov, the Stockholm correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the Russians evidently intend to make an early withdrawal from the town, because civilians are being evacuated and all machinery removed, and factories are, ready to be blown up. Equipment is also being removed from Voroshilovgrad (Lugansk), 90 miles north of Rostov. The "Daily Telegraph" adds that Germans from the town of Stalin are heavily engaging the Russians in the foothills before Voroshilovgrad.

Moscow radio reports that the Don is in full flood and hampering the Germans. . The Russians blew up a dam in the Rostov sector, submerging 380 lorries. A similar fate overtook numerous lorries in another sector.