ROSTOV SECTOR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 5

ROSTOV SECTOR

DEFENCES OF MOSCOW NAZI PRESSURE INCREASED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 25, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. A Russian communique of to-day states: “Our troops last night fought the enemy on all fronts.” Extremely little detail is available on London, but it is known that the German pressure continues towards Moscow while the Russians are reported to have made a big counterattack near Rostov. A Russian Sunday night communique stated: “To-day our troops were engaged in fighting the enemy on all fronts. Particularly fierce fighting took place in the directions of Kalinin, Volokalam.sk, Tula and Rostov. On Saturday 10 German planes were destroyed. Our losses were four. In the Barents Sea our ships sank three enemy transports.” The Soviet Information Bureau to-day repoi’ted: “In a sector on the southern front west of Rostov our forces routed the German 49th Alpine Rifle Corps and a tank division. The Russian counter-attack began on Thursday and by Sunday the Soviet forces had advanced 37 miles. The enemy lost over 7000 men killed and considerable war equipment.” The Moscow radio yesterday declared that the Russians had captured a further three important point? on the Leningrad front. The Russians l’etained the initiative and were constantly attacking, said the Moscow radio. German and Finnish forces which drove a wedge into the Russian defences in the Kestenga sector wei'e flung back to their original position? after a fierce four-day battle. German Retreat The Red Star reports that the Russians recaptured Malayavishera, and that the Germans are retreating after losing 1000 men. Reliable sources confirm that the Russians have withdrawn from Rostov across the Don, blowing up all bridges and destroying all factories and shipyards, but even the Germans to-day deny a repoi't that they have already crossed the Don. It was unofficially claimed in Berlin yestei’day that the Germans had ci’Ossed the Don and were advancing southwards.

An expert in London explained that Rostov is almost entirely on the northwest side of the River Don. There are only two permanent bridges, both carrying single railway lines. For road transport there are four temporary bridges which are removed wher the river freezes, usually about Christmas time. There are no other permanent bridges within 200 miles. The crossings are easily destroyed, and the river is 500 yards wide and will have to be crossed by the Germans before the claimed occupation of Rostov can .-be exploited successfully. Moscow Situation

Although the Russian resistance is hourly increasing on the Moscow front, the capital’s situation is more serious than ever, says the Daily Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent. ’.The fighting is growing in intensity at Klin, Volokalamsk, Mojaisk and Tula. The Germans are bringing up new reserves in a steady stream. A new battle has been raging during the last 24 hours in the Serpukhov region.

General von Bock is throwing masses of tanks into" the Battle of Moscow in a final desperate effort to win winter quarters before it is too late, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Express. The situation on the entire Moscow front is serious. The Germans advanced to Klin from Volokalamsk. The Luftwaffe has resumed heavy raids on Moscow.