STUBBORN SOVIET RESISTANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20623, 26 November 1941, Page 5

STUBBORN SOVIET RESISTANCE

GERMAN HORDES MOSCOW IN PERIL INCREASING PRESSURE TANKS AND INFANTRY i Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Pre39 Aseu.) (Reed. Nov. 26, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25. While the Soviet overnight war communique confines itself to the statement that during Monday the enemy was engaged on all fronts, a more detailed picture of the fighting can be obtained from reports from the front broadcast by the Moscow radio. It is clear that some of the fiercest fighting of the whole campaign is proceeding all along the approaches to Moscow and that, without any account for losses, the Germans are throwing everything they possess into the battle. Slowly the Russians appear to be falling back. No confirmation is given of the German claim to be within 30 miles of the capital at Solnechavagora, but the Moscow radio indicated that fighting is taking place at Klin, only 10 miles further north. .

The danger for the capital is admitted by the Moscow radio to be great.

Quoting from a despatch from the front the radio states: “On the northwest approaches of Moscow an especially tense situation has been created. Throughout last week the enemy has been constantly attacking in the Volokalamsk and Klin directions and the bloody fighting does not cease. In spite of the enemy’s; great superiority in numbers and tanks, our troops are offering stubborn resistance and the enemy is suffering very great losses.

Losses Ignored

“In spite of his losses, however, he is continuing his attacks and in the Volokalamsk direction he increased his pressure. In the Klin direction he threw into the battle two tank divisions and one motorised infantry division. After long and fierce fighting he succeeded in reaching his objective.

“The fierce fighting is continuing in this sector. Our troops are receiving fresh reinforcements, but the danger for Moscow is great. Our troops are doing their utmost to hold the enemy.” The Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that Hitler has thrown in 1,000,000 infantry and over 10,000 tanks into the Battle of Moscow.

Tanks of African Corps

The Pravda says that three tank divisions from General Rommel’s African corps are operating on the Moscow front, where the Germans are employing all the available reserves.

The Izvestia, commenting on the new German onslaught, says: “The Germans know the Red Army reserves are incalculable. This is not a mere phase, but an actual, practical military prospect. Hitler’s exhausted troops will inevitably be confronted with fresh Russian units now being formed, for which reason it is now or never for Hitler.” The Moscow radio states further: “The pressure at Volokalamsk and Klin is increasing. Our troops are receiving reinforcements and doing their ufmost to hold the enemy, but the danger for Moscow is great.” , The radio further reported that despite stubborn resistance and the heaviest enemy losses in men and material, the situation south-east-wards of Tula “remains most serious.”

A despatch from the front last night stated that the Russians on the Leningrad front completely smashed the 115th and the 257th German infantry regiments. The Germans lost over 3,000 killed and wounded.