FIGHT AND SMASH INVADERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 27 November 1941, Page 5

FIGHT AND SMASH INVADERS

MOSCOW DEFENCE DECISIVE STAGE COUNTER IN DONETZ THREAT TO GERMANS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 27, 11 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 26. “The battle for Moscow in which the Germans are using more than half their tank divisions has now entered a decisive stage, but our troops,” said the Moscow radio, “are fighting with the eyes of the world , fixed on them. They know their duty. Moscow will be defended at all costs. Our motto must be: ‘Not a step backwards; let us fight and smash the enemy.’ ” Despatches received at Kuibyshev from the front state the Germans have broken through the Soviet defences at Klin and are now astride the main highway leading from Klin to Moscow. The battle is one of the most ferocious and intensive since the outbreak of the war. Two German tank divisions and one motorised division are engaged. The Turkish radio says that according to German reports German armoured forces are now within 19 miles of Moscow. The situation in the Rostov area is not entirely as favourable as the Germans pretend. The Red. Army has pressed counter-attacks across the plateau of the Donetz basin and cut in the flank the long German salient across that area. This drive threatens the rear of the German forces in the Rostov area. The speed of the Russions’ advance indicates that they caught the Germans by surprise in a thinly-held area. Germans May Be Pinched

Reuter’s correspondent at Kuibyshev says that if the Soviet advance in the Donetz basin continues, the Germans may be pinched against the Don River. The Germans so far have failed to cross the river, despite the Berlin claims to have established a bridgehead. Thus the repulse of General von Kleist’s corps northwai’ds of Rostov means a serious weakening of the German forces, both in numbers and strategically. Von Kleist, after failing to come round behind Rostov on the Novocherkask front, tried a new direction, but it is obvious that, with a large section of his forces now driven back and badly mauled, he will have to regroup his units. This heartening Soviet success comes at the right time,/ militarily and psychologically. An overnight Soviet communique states there was particularly severe fighting yesterday in the Volokalamsk, Stalino Gorsk and Rostov sectors. Stalino Gorsk is a new industrial town about 30 miles south-east of Tula. Three German aircraft were shot down near Moscow. On Monday the Russians shot down five aircraft and lost two.

The Berlin radio reports that two Russian transports, carrying 3000 commissars, Jews and Russian officers, were sunk on Sunday near Yalta.