NEW THRUSTS

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1941, Page 5

NEW THRUSTS

AGAINST MOSCOW North and South [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, October 10. The German offensive against Moscow now extends along an arc 300 miles wide. . , The two main drives are from Kzhev, 125 miles west of Moscow, and Orel, 200 miles south of Moscow, but the Germans are pushing out) smaller thrusts in various sectors along the front in an endeavour to encircle units of the Russian --Uf-X The Germans claim to ha'"-, tigntened their grip and to have encucled Marshal Timoshenko’s army, but the encirclement is denied m Moscow. Pockets of Marshal Timoshenko’s troops behind the German lines are still fighting. . . The Germans are trying to drive a breach at Elnya, where the civilian population is fighting side by side with the Russian troops. Russian dive-bombers are inflicting heavy losses on German mechanised columns. .. The Wilhelmstrasse apparently, genuinely believes that the Russians have no first-class reserves worthy of mention. With no announcement all day ot positional changes on the central front, it seems that Marshal Timoshenko at least is partially succeeding holding- the Germans while attempts are made to consolidate a new line of defence around Moscow and about 100 miles from the city. The correspondent of “The Times on the German frontier states that Russian tactics here consist ot fighting stubborn rearguard actions while they establish new positions roughly on the line of Rjev-Vyazma-Kaaiuga-Mtsensk-Novosil. The fighting on the Vyazma-Bryansk-Orel line is thus most important in gaining time for effective consolidation nearer Moscow and indeed, Marshal Timoshenko’s capacity to defend the capital seems largely to depend on the success of these rearguard actions and a speedy withdrawal to new points. The Russians are fighting back fiercely in the Rjev area to maintain their ‘northern contact. They are also counterattacking the German right wing in the neighbourhood of Orel with the dual purpose of keeping touch with Marshal Budenny and relieving the pressure against Kharkov.

Marshal Timoshenko’s counter-at-tack will have the further effect of diverting German forces to defend the flank of the German drive toward the Donetz basin between Orel and Kursk. Marshal Timoshenko’s chances here, as elsewhere, cannot be assessed with any accuracy. The “Red Star" states that new reserves are going into action and that the best forces are en route to the front. RUSSIAN CLAIMS. GERMANS PARTLY HELD. LONDON, October 10. The Russians claim that the Germans have made little progress, and what little ground they have made has cost them terrific losses. One Russian unit claims to have killed between 7,000 and 8,000 German officers and men in a five-days’ battle. Denying that Marshal Timoshenko ?, armies are surrounded, the “Red Star’’ quotes a mesage from the Orel sector stating that the southern claw of tne pincer movement against Moscow has been checked but. that the position there required consolidation. The Tass Agency renorts that in the pa'st five day 7 s the Russians in tne Vyazma sector, under General Boldin, have destroyed 220 tanks and 140 lorries and annihilated between 700 J and 8000 German officers and men. Fierce fighting continues in this sector After massing superior numerical’ forces, the Germans, furiously attacking, again succeeded in advancing at certain points. Thq Russians continue to inflict heavy losses. Elsewhere in the Vyazma sector troops under General Lukon killed 4500 men. No change in the position is reported in the Russian night communique which states: On October 10, our troops engaged in fighting along the entire front. The fighting was particularly fierce in the Vyazma and Bryansk directions and in the region of Melitopol. On October 8, thirtynine German aeroplanes were destroyed with the loss of twenty-sevqp to the Soviet Air Force. . The “Red Star” describes the frightful destruction in Novgorod. All tne palaces and cathedrals were destroyed by fire long before the capture ot the city. Savage aerial bombardments of residential quarters destroyed district after district. Only sixty houses were undamaged. The remainder were either destroyed or uninhabitable. All the window frames and doors were torn out and used in German dugouts. Every store and shop was looted. Few inhabitants are left and nothing can be purchased there. ■a RUSSIAN REPORT. (Rec. 7.30). RUGBY, October 11. The Russian morning communique on Saturday repeats in practically the same words those issued yesterday. It says “During Friday night ■ .our troops fought the enemy along I tne entire front, and with particular fierceness in the directions of Viazama and Bryansk.” REINFORCEMENTS FOR TIMOSHENKO. (Rec. 7.10.) LONDON, October 11. The Moscow “Red Star” says: “Huge masses of Russian troops, accompanied bv colossal war machines, are now moving to the front to reinforce Marshal Timoshenko’s army. German ’planes are vainly trying to halt endless columns of reinforcements which are going to the front with clock-work precision. Huge forces of cavalry and artillery follow up infantry and mechanised units. , J , The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Mail” states that Marshal Timoshenko has already received reinforcements of fresh troops, guns, and tanks. Leningrad Sector RUSSIAN REPORT. (Rec G. 30). LONDON, October 10 A broadcast from Leningrad said Russians were still defending Osel and Dago Islands off Estonia. The Moscow radio stated that the Baltic Fleet was shelling Germans on the mainland day and night, and that one warship, in an action lasting 24 hours silenced five batteries. (Rec. 7.30) RUGBY, October 11. Around Leningrad investment of the citv continues, with little material chanee in the position of the opposing forces. LUFTWAFFE LOSS AT MURMANSK LONDON. October 11. ; The Moscow “Pravda” says: 'rhe latest attempt by the Luftwaffe to raid Murmansk was repulsed bv Red i Air Force and R.A.F. planes with tile i enemy losing five planes, three of: which were shot down by Hurricanes. . Ne’ther the Red Air Force nor the R.A.F suffered a’ single loss.

Two Offensives UM CENTAL SECTOR. RUSSIAN DIVISIONS CAUGHT. (Rec. 7.30). RUGBY, October H. Informed opinion here is to the eifeet that the Germans still are exerting heavier pressure on the Russians. In the Central Sector, two distinct, offensives by the enemy have developed. The first consists of a thrust to the north of the Smolensk railway. It is designed to converge east of Viazama with another attack fo the north-east, from Roslavl, towards Yukhnov, along the road to Moscow. , The second offensive is further south. It has taken the form .of a break through on the line from Bryansk to Glukhov. It is directed on Orel — a n important junction on the Moscow-Kharkov railway—which the enemy has captured. It is not known how far the Germans have been able to exploit this advance. Considerable numbers of Russian divisions, it is feared, mayjrave been encircled in each of these two offeusives. The Germans are already claiming to have isolated Marshal Timoshen- ( ko from Marshal Voroshilov’s and Marshal Budenny’s armies. The Official German News Agency claims that German advanced units which cut the road to Moscow in the Vyazma area cut off a large Russian motorised unit. German reinforcements formed an iron ring round th s area from which the Russians had no escape. All were wiped out. To-day’s German communique states: “We further tightened the encirclement in the Sea of Azov. Bryansk and Vyazma areas on October 9. Three hundred miles breach on the central front has been extended eastwards. We took prisoners 12.5 M) Russians.’’ BATTLE BELOW MOSCOW SOVIET RESERVES THROWN IN(Rec. 7.30) RUGBY, October .1.1Further details of fighting are given by the Russian Army newspaper “Red Star’’, which says: The Germans are renewing their efforts to break through, due north of OreThey launched on Thursday a large scale battle, which is still raging. Fighting went on from daybreak on Thursday until late at night. The enemy were sending over wave aI. for wave of tanks in ever-increasing numbers. German infantry, by. mghtfab. broke through to the Soviet trenches, but were repulsed, and the Germans lost the day’s battle. Fighting' was renewed with even greater ferocity next day. The Nazis brought up reinforcements. These were battered by the Soviet AnForce. “Meanwhile,” adds the “Red Star , “fresh reserves are moving up the central sector by day and night. They are armed with most modern weapons, and are accompanied by new tanks, guarded by fighters of the latest type. All the men are clad m warm clothing, suitable for the winter. They do not fear the cold when wearing warm underclothing, thick uniforms and new shoes. Many of the men have not yet participated in this war, but the commanders are sa'.d to have experience of modern warfare.’’ GERMAN FORCES . WEST OF MOSCOW. (Rec. 7.30) RUGBY. October 11. A Russian communique states: >.n the direction of Bryansk the Germans are now attacking with tanks and motorised infantry. Russian troops are offering stubborn resistance. Tn one sector 43 enemy tanks, and several guns, ma'chine-gum; ana mortars were destroyed, and mote than one battalion was routed. In another sector of the same front the enemy lost 23 tanks, 80 lorries containing infantry, 138 anti-tank guns, and many machine-guns. In the. direction of Viazma' Russian troops, in repulsing enemv attacks, inflicted heavy losses In one sector on this front, more than 800 enemy - soldiers and officers were killed. ALL-IN BID. ‘ TO TAKE MOSCOW. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON, October 11. Continually flinging forward fresh troops, the Germans are making an all-in bid for victory in the battle ot Moscow. , . The Moscow “Red Star denies that the Russian armies are encircled. RUSSIANS SUFFERING. WEST OF v MOSCOW. (Rec. 7.30.) LONDON, October 11. A German report states: The des-: truction of Russian armies, encircled at Bryansk and Viazma, west o. Moscow, is proceeding apace. LATEST GERMAN CLAIM. (Rec. 7.30.) LONDON, October 71. A German communique claims that the annihilation of the Russians who were encircled northwards ot the Azov Sea, is nearing completion. RUSSIAN TRAINS BOMBED. LONDON, October 10. The Berlin radio states that the Luftwaffe on Thursday, October 9, directed large-scale attacks on Russian railways. Twenty trains were blown u D and set on fire, and many lines were interrupted. GERMAN ADVANCE FROM OREL CONTINUES. RUGBY. October 10 No further information is available in London about the German thrusts in the Viazma-Orel districts. ine ' Germans claim that large pockets ol Russians exist in the rear of bom ‘ thrusts, and if this is true no doubt I the Germans are now making a great ; effort to annihilate them, and tne i Russians equally great efforts to ngiiv their wav out. , It is known the German tnrust i further south, in the neighbourhood . of Rzhev, is still going on. (Rec. 7.10.) LONDON, October 11. ’ A Russian communique describes the fighting- in the direction of Viazma and Bryansk as being particularly intense. , x , Fierce fighting is also reported north of Orel by “Pravda’s” Moscow war correspondent, who says: It is not yet possible to stem the enemy, advance, despite heavy losses inflict--1 ed by the Russian Air Force and 1 troops. > NEW THREAT TO MOSCOW. j FROM THE SOUTH. ' (Rec. 7.15.) LONDON, October 11. A new threat to Moscow is said to i be developing from Tula, the indus--1 trial citv south of the capital. , The Vichy Radio says the Germans ' have captured Tula.

GERMAN FLANKS. LESS ACTIVE THAN CENTRE. (Rec. 6 30). LONDON, October 10. The Germans seem, temporarily content to leave Leningrad, Odessa, and the Crimea for a later settlement. The Russian forces at these points, however, continue thrusts against invaders, and local battles are as fierce as ever.

SOUTHERN FRONTS. LONDON, October 10. The central drive against Moscow has naturally come into the limelight but it is obvious that the invaders are concentrating at least equal forces and energy in their drives to the Donetz basin and along the Sea of Azov to the Caucasus which is the most important and possibly essential for Germany, if she is going to keep up her high pressure fighting. RUSSIAN EFFORT. TO KEEP LINE TO CRIMEA. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON. October 11. A German war correspondent, referring to repeated Russian attempts to break through in order to neutralise the cutting off of the Crimea from the mainland, said: “The R us " sians used rocket guns which fire 60 shells simultaneously. They also; have made raging attacks with tanks. The ‘Ghost Voice’ was heard superimposing Russian slogans.’THE FAR SOUTH LONDON, October iO. It is authoritatively confirmed that the Germans have captured Melito pol, Berdyanask and Mariupol. A considerable pocket of Russians is possibly fighting westwards in tms area. The drive from Poltava to Kharkov is making slow progress. The German advance from Poltava towards Kharkov is meetm; stubborn resistance, and is making only slow progress. It is thought probable that in the Melitopol. Berdyansk, Mariupol area', which was captured by the Germans, fairly large Russian forces are encircled by the enemy advance from the north and along the coast. RUGBY, October 11. In the Ukraine the German advance from Poltava in the direction of Kharkov is still meeting with stubborn resistance. It appears to have made little progress. In the Crimea and the Sea of Azov the German attack on Perskop Isthmus is still hmd ■ up Russian resistance continues round Melitopol, west of Bardyansx. The situation of the Russian divisions in this area would appear to be precarious. ENEMY’S AZOV OFFENSIVE. (Rec. 7.10.) LONDON, October 11The Russians, in the neighbourhood of the Azov Sea are fighting with their backs to the wall, says the “Red Star.” The situation is serious, as a number of important industrial centres bordering the Azov Sea are threatened. Fierce fighting continues. FINNISH FRONTS. (Rec. 10.0). RUGBY, October 11. In Finland no change has occurred on the Murmansk front or Kandalaksha front, but the Finnish forces have established their position on the western shore of Lake Onega, anc. .Petrozavodsk is in their hands. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT LONDON, October 10. British press comment this morning emphasises the magnificent resistance which is being put up by the Russians and the importance of not being overwhelmed by the size of the territorial gains, as the Germans are continually stating that the only possible military objective must be the crushing of the Russian armies. The “News Chronicle” emphasises the nature of the task of the Russian defenders against a determined wellprepared and ruthless enemy. "One* again the’- world has been given an awe-inspir'ing and perhaps salutary reminder of a fact that we are continually apt to forget—the terrific power of the German military machine,” it states. “For three months and a-half the Nazis have been mounting offensive after offensive up and down the 1500-mile front, and in all of them they have incurred veryheavy losses in material and mem Their problems of supply must have been incredibly complicated. Yet. now they can organise and deliver not merely another attack, but the most powerful of them all. As the Mosccw newspaper ‘Pravda’ says, ‘lt is a question of life or death,’ and tne British are deeply impressed not only by the determination of the Russian people, but, also, by their ability to resist, in spite of continuous and deadly attacks.”

STALIN WANTS BRITISH ATTACK. BUT TIME NOT RIPE. LONDON, October 10. Diplomatic circles in Washington to-day intimated that they had information that M. Stalin had asked Britain for an immediate military diversion on the Western Front to relieve some of the German pressui e on Russia. Britain, it is stated, replied indicating her inabilty to provide a sufficently large equipped expeditionary force to achieve such a purpose. The “Daily Mail” states: “Obviously the War Cabinet has examined all possibilities of landing .on the Continent and considers that the time is not ripe. Winter is approaching, which is the worst time of the year to embark on a Continental onensive Britain can best help the Eastern ’ Front by continuing to send as much material to Russia as possible. Should Moscow fall the Russians could retreat to the Volga and hold that line for the winter Russia has the man power and Britain and America the machine power. 11, >ietween us we equip the Russians, then next summer we should still have a great Allied army canable of a further prolonged effort. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, October 10. The “Voelkischer Beobachter,’ echoing Napoleon’s gibe that the British were a nation of shopkeepers, states: “Europe is already freed from the worst danger of the Bolshevist threat, and the dirty little British and American shopkeeping souls will never again be able to carry on business at the expense ot the nations of Europe. This, is the historic significance of 1941.” “The Lokal Anzieger,” whose comment is typical of other papers, states: “No one conceals the fact that more hard battles must come, since Soviet reserves are certainly still available or can be brought from the depths of the Soviet Union. It is certain that Britain and America can overcome transport difficulties, thus some material aid will probably reach the Soviet, but under no circumstances will it be adequate.” ___________