AGAIN CHECKED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 9

AGAIN CHECKED

GERMAN DRIVES SOVIET DEFENCES PERSISTENT COUNTERS SNOW IN MOSCOW ZONE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Prehß Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 25, 2.50 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. Forty Germans divisions, including half of all the tanks available to the German High Command, are being thrown into the all-out offensive against Moscow, says the Red Star. The Russians are being slowly pushed back at a number of points. Heavy snow has fallen on the Moscow front. Moscow itself is covered with deep snow. The Russians frustrated German attacks in the region of Volkhov. They then spiritedly charged and recaptured several settlements and pursued the enemy for several miles. Similar successes are reported at Tikhvin.

Describing the fighting for Rostov, the Red Star says; “After crashing through the outer defences enemy tanks and mechanised forces were met by anti-tank fire and turned into the side streets, where their progress was challenged at every step by the defenders.” The Red Star continues: “On the Moscow front at Volokalamsk the German advance has been checked in spite of a powerful tank drive at Mojaisk. German reinforcements of tanks and infantry forced the defenders to retire to new positions. At Tula the enemy pressure was met by stubborn resistance and the Russians under General Yermkov retreated slowly, trading blow for blow with the enemy. Station Recaptured

“Counter-attacking on the entire north-western front the Red Army recaptured Malaya and Vichera, important stations on the MoscowLeningrad railway line, where more than 1000 Germans were killed. The Soviet troops are not only mopping up the invaders, but are also assaulting another city on the same line.” The Moscow radio reports that after fierce fighting the Russians recaptured Krasnayavisherka, which is an important village north-eastward of Novgorod. It was the headquarters of the 30th regiment of the 18th German motorised division. The Russians smashed through thi'ee lines of German trenches before reaching the village. Two hundred Germans were killed.

After a comparative lull, fierce fighting is occurring again in the Crimea, being particularly severe on the right flank, where the enemy has concentrated large forces. One Soviet unit cut a strategically-important road and with resolute counterattacks is keeping the enemy at bay. Increasing Ferocity

The Kuibyshev radio declares that the Germans are throwing further tanks, planes and infantry into the battle for Tula in the effort to exploit the penetration into the rear of the Russian fighting lines. Fighting is proceeding with increasing ferocity. The Russians are counter-attacking, inflicting heavy losses. Planes for both sides are vigorously supporting the land operations, despite the bad weather.

The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that apart from whether the invaders succeed in forcing the Don near Rostov, their position in the Donetz Basin is not secure, but is disputed by strong and aggressive Russian forces operating in the Voroshilovgrad region and also from the hills eastward of Orjonikidze and elsewhere. The Russians in this region during the week-end recovered about 1000 square miles and inflicted heavy losses on Italians and Germans, and possibly also on Hungarians. Russians Everywhere Resisting'

The German movement from the Kursk region to outflank the Tula wing of Moscow’s defences has progressed somewhat, although the position in this area is at present rather confused, says The Times’ Stockholm correspondent. The Russians are everywhere resisting and counter-attacking manfully, and show less anxiety than was discernible in September and October, Their firm determination was tinged then with a certain atmosphere of desperation, but a more confident tone has appeared lately reflecting the Russian confidence not, as previously, in a distant, ultimate success, but rather in the more immediate future.

The correspondent says the Germans are making noticeable efforts to magnify the Finnish activity, but information from Finland rather gives the impression that the Finns arc taking a rest. A German communique says: “Our attacks on the central sector at the eastern front gained fresh ground. After bitter fighting we captured Solnechnayagora.