GERMAN ADVANCE

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1941, Page 5

GERMAN ADVANCE

TOWARDS MOSCOW Enemy Claims 200,000 Prisoners CAPTURE OF BRYANSK

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, October 11. The terrific impetus of Hitler’s fourth and greatest offensive on the Eastern Front still carries his troops forward, in spite of the almost superhuman effort of Soviet resistance. A German communique from tne Fuehrer’s headquarters states: From the Sea of Azov to the Valdai Mountains, German and Allied troops are in full attack eastward. The battlefields of Bryansk and Viazma are already far behind the front The enemy encircled here cannot alter their lot. Over 200,000 prisoners have so far been taken, and the number is continually growing. Over tne Berlin wireless last evening the German High Command communique warned the Germans that the mass levy of the Soviet forces had not yet come to an end. “Ou>’ troops will have to stand up to quite a number of ha'rd it was stated. “We had t 0 attack on a straight line front an enemy who. unlike the French, had in time recognised the value of tanks and was m possesion of a sufficiently strong air force. The position w-as made mor; difficult by the bad roads in Russia', where a single rainfall is sufficient to transform the highways into impasable- mud. The farther the German troops advance, the more they are departing from their supply bases, vzhilst the Russians are getting nearer theirs. So far as our rear , communications are concerned there ar.' only bad roads and railway lines, ot a guage different from that in Germany’ MOSCOW, October 12Bryansk has been evacuated. Bryansk is between Kaluga and Orel. In a’ leading article, addressed to troops sent to the front, the Ke< Star” says: The threat hanging oyer us is great. Be steady, comrades The artilcle then recalls Lenin? words in the civil war period: Death or victory. The Germans have many obstacles to overcome before they reach the Russian capital. Continually flinging forward fresh troops, the Germanks are making an all-in bid ioi victory. Moscow “Pravda" says: The enemy by numerical superiority in some sectors, and at the cost of heavylosses, succeeded in pressing the Rod Army, and, although covering uho, ground with dead, is still advancing, also, by landing parachutists here and there, 'is trying t? sow panic. Complacency would be a crime in these days.

BEING EVACUATED MOSCOW WOMEN AND CHILDREN. LQNDON, October 12It is officially announced that the evacuation of women and children from Moscow has been in-progress since the outbreak, but now that tne fighting is fiercer, a'U those not. engaged in industry must leave the capital, in order to avoid casualties, and to spare the children from the psychological effects of bombings. NO SURRENDER. MOSCOW, October 12. M. Lozovsky denied that the Germans have captured Tula. He also denied that the Soviet Government is evacuating Moscow. He denied tihat Russia would entertain peace moves. He said: “The Germans may advance some tens of miles on tne central front, but will not achieve their aim. We will ,fight, on until we destroy all Hitlerism bandits in Soviet territory.” GERMAN CLAIM REFUTED. LONDON, October 11. Moscow Radio broadcast a telephone interview with General C-hav-itinov, commander of the Russian Ninth Army, which the Germans claim that they have annihilated. General Charitinov said: “The Germans are still fighting, but we are holding them. German reports tna. they have captured my headquarters are untrue. They never will. They have a grudge against the Ninth Army for beating them at Melitopol, when we inflicted huge losses. They then got some men at our rear, but that has not scared anybody, and they have not surrounded us.”

ATTACKS ON LENINGRAD.

ENEMY CHECKED.

(Rec. 8.40). LONDON. October 13. The Germans appear to have renewed their offensive on the Leningrad front, but once again have been checked b v heroic defenders. Marshal Voroshilov, continuing local counter-attacks and daring thrusts by tanks, is taking a substantial toll, of enemy men and material. According to German prisoners, German losses on the Leningrad front have been so heavy that expert parachutists, are now being used as infantry. A German spokesman admitted there had been strong Russian attacks on the Central and Leningrad Fronts. 1 !•- >

GERMAN AIRCRAFT LOSSES. 8.0.W. RUGBY. October 13

A Russian Sunday night communique stated: On Friday, 37 enemy planes wer P 'destroyed. We lost 14 Four Gorman planes,were shot down near Moscow on Saturday and 12 on Sunday.

BRITISH COMMENTS RUGBY, October 11. Mr Vernon Bartlett M.P., who has just returned to London from Russia said in a broadcast address last night. “I must say how astonished I am, on returning to England, to meet so many people who seem ready to take Hitler’s boastings at their face value. I am not fool enough to suggest thal things are not serious, but all along we have urged that the Russians must keep their armies intact, however far they have to retreat in order to do so ' The miles of sour, water-logged land thev have so far had to abandon or the Smolensk front are not going to decide the war. Between Vyazma and Mosccw, there are about 130 miles cf dense forest crowded with soldiers. There are a good many tank traps and so on and the Russians are as good at concealing themselves that I can give you mo estimate at all as to the amount of artillery, etc., still available to defend the capital. ‘ There is one wide highroa.d and a series of narrow unpaved tracks already very deep m .mud. Otherwise, there is this forest of trees so close together that no tank could force its way between them. That should not be very difficult country to defend and unless there has been an almost unbelievable collapse in Soviet morale in the last week. I am confident that the vast armies of Russia are still determined to defend it ”

Don’t forget to try your luck in the Victory Art Union, £5OOO in 305 prizes, £2OOO Ist prize; closing Saturday, October 18th, drawn October 29th. Tickets 2/6.—Advt.