NO BIG CHANGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 267, 13 October 1941, Page 5

NO BIG CHANGES

'LAST 24 HOURS’ FIGHTING. NAZIS SUFFER HEAVILY. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 12. Though 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 the Soviet resistance, which is inflicting such heavy losses on tiis forces, the last 24 hours have brought no substantial gains. This was officially announced in Aloseow last night. “On Saturday our forces engaged the enemy along the entire front, the lighting being particularly severe in the central sector, where tierce resistance inflicted heavy losses on the, enemy. “According to incomplete reports 72 German tanks, 220 truck loads of troops and ammunition, 41 guns, and many machine-guns were demolished. The Germans lost not less than 9000 officers and men killed and injured. “On one single aerodrome in this sector at least 65 German pianos of various types were destroyed. “Severe fighting continued during the whole day in the south-west direction of the front. In heavy attacks the German forces attempted to break through our lines, but the assaults were stemmed with heavy losses for them. Our air force destroyed 100 trucks with German infantry, 150 lorries with ammunition, 15 guns, and a column of mobile patrol tanks.” A supplementary Russian communique states: “In one sector of the central front our troops operating against big enemy units Inflicted heavy loss on .the enemy. During a four-day battle 4000 enemy troops were killed and wounded; 80 enemy tanks were destroyed. In one sector of the north-west front the enemy tried to break through our lines of defence and threw into the battle three regiments. In fierce fighting 2200 enemy officers and men were killed. Uncompleted figures show that our trpops captured six guns, 30 machine-guns, five anti-tank guns, and a large quantity of rifles and ammunition. Our Baltic navy destroyed two long-range guns of different calibre and three mortar batteries.” AERIAL CO OPERATION.

The Moscow Pravda says that the latest attempt by the Luftwaffe to raid Murmansk was repulsed by the lied Air Force and the Royal Air force, with the enemy losing five planes, three of which were shot down by Hurricanes. Neither the Russian nor British force suffered a single loss. In Finland no change has 'occurred on the Murmansk or Kandalaksha fronts, but Finnish forces have established a position on the western shore of Lake Onega, and Petrozavodsk is in their hands. Round Leningrad the investment of the city continues with little material change in the position of the opposing forces. —Official Wireless.