SURPRISE ATTACK LAUNCHED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20627, 1 December 1941, Page 5

SURPRISE ATTACK LAUNCHED

NAZI THREAT OF STERN REPRISALS

“ILLEGAL” WAR IN REAR OF ARMY

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 1. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. The Russians’ big success in the Rostov area is described in it despatch received by the Soviet paper Pravda which states: —“Von Kleist’s forces are now in full retreat towards Mariupol. Five thousand Germans were killed and a great quantity of war material captured.

“The battle for Rostov lasted three days. The Germans had constructed powerful strong .points to the northward providing for criss-cross fire. Tanks and artillery were,concentrated at the more important points. Russian artillery, cavalry and airmen overcame the enemy’s desperate resistance. “A Soviet unit by-passed a fortified village and annihilated the enemy by an attack from an unexpected direction. A cavalry unit, after fighting through the enemy forces, reached the town. “Our blows from the north enabled another unit to attack the enemy from, the south. Thin ice prevented our troops crossing rivers with tanks and ammunition. It was necessary to cross by ferry and drive across an open plain, hut the cavalry overcame the obstacles and pierced the southern suburbs. Battles in City Streets “Heavy street engagements ensued. It was necessary to take every street and house by storm. “The street fighting lasted two days when Rostov again became a Soviet town, the inhabitants receiving the troops with the greatest enthusiasm. Our infantry ' and cavalry hotly pursued the enemy who is retreating in disorder. Thousands of corpses lie on the road by which the Red Army is advancing. The Germans are abandoning weapons and ammunit ion. ”

The Pravda mentions that Nazi tanks, artillery and lorries are fleeing along the roads and across fields in the dn action of Khartsisk. The Pravda also refers to the enemy sending a reinforcing tank column from Mariupol. Other reports from Russia speak of the continuing advance west of Rostov towards Taganrog. The Moscow radio broadcast the text of the following telegram sent from M. Stalin to Marshal Timoshenko and the High Command of the south-eastern Soviet Army: “I congratulate you on the victory over the enemy and on the liberation of Rostov. I congratulate the valiant soldiers of the Soviet armies who hoisted the glorious red flag in Rostov ” A German communique says the Germans occupying Rostov, in accordance with orders from the High Command «le»r*d the inner «m of the city iu order to carry out * c E ns /? ]s . a gamrt the population, which illegally paiticipatcd m the battle in the rear of the German army. ”