GRIM STRUGGLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 291, 13 November 1941, Page 7

GRIM STRUGGLE

GERMANS HARD-PRESSED. EPIC OF TULA. (United Press Association—Coi>vright) (Rec. 11.35 a.ni.) LONDON, Nov. 12. The battle for Tula has intensified in the oast three days. Fifteen German attempts to break through have forced the Russians to withdraw slihtly, but a coun-ter-attack on the flank put the Germans to flight.

Tho lied Star, describing this fighting, says the Germans recently drew up fresh forces in the direction of Tula, including two tank divisions, which were re-formed and reinforced after their rout near Bryansk, also several divisions of motorised infantry and large numbers of minethrowers and planes. These enabled the Germans to undertake new attempts to capture Tula, but they changed their tactics.

“Instead of attacking the Tula, front from the south, as they did for ten days previously, they consistently attacked our troops south-eastward and north-westward of Tula. For the past three days they brought strong pressure to bear on our troops in the neighbourhood of a river crossing and the Russian units fell back slightly. A Russian unit commanded by Fokonov, closely co-operating with artillery and tanks, then struck against the flank of the German force on the southern outskirts of Tula.

“Fearing an encircling movement, tlie Germans fled, abandoning arms and Ammunition. The fleeing Germans afforded an easy target for the Russian artillery and machine-gunners, who made the most of their opportunity.

“In the hamlet of Itogozhinskv, only five miles from Tula, a. German General succeeded in halting and mustering the remnants of four German battalions, but .not for long. Continuing the pursuit Fokanov’s unit a tacked Rogozhinsky, whereupon the Germans again took to their heels. Only when the arrival of reinforcements restored some kind of balance did the Germans cense retreating and take up defensive positions. Along the route of their flight the Germans left over 500 dead and a large num-

ber of wounded.’’ The Russian morning communique issued on Tuesday night said: “Our troops have engaged the enemy on all fronts.” STALIN’S COMMENDATION. M. Stalin, in an Order of the Day, has commended the valiant operations of tlie Fourth Tank Brigade, which between November 4 and II halted two German tank divisions and one motorised division, and in fierce battles smashed 133 tanks, 49 guns, and eight planes, also infantry regiments. The Moscow radio . says Stormovik dive-bombers heavily attacked a tenmile long German tank column between Orel and Mtsensk. Tho column, headed by armoured ears, consisted of heavy and medium tanks and supply lorries. The Stormoviks shelled and machine-gunned the column and wrecked several score of tanks and blow up the supply lorries. A German communique states that German and Rumanian troops in the Crimea, in sharp pursuit lighting, have reached the coast southwards of Kerch. The Luftwaffe continues to bomb the harbours of Sebastopol and Kerch. “We repulsed concentrated Soviet forces attempting to break out from Leningrad. Planes have bombed Moscow day and night, and have attacked munition factories at Gorki.” i

It is announced from Berlin that Major-General Felix Vara (Chief of the Department for Fortification in the German High Command) was killed on November 3 in the west “by an enemy air attack during a voyage on official business. - NAZI ADVANCE IN NORTH.

Stockholm correspondents at Helsinki report that the Germans claimed -to have advanced appreciably in the northernmost sector. Ski patrols were operating eastwards ol the Murmansk railway, which was blown up at several points.

The fighting eastwards of Leningrad had changed in character. Strong German lorees which at first appeared to be thrusting northwards along the shores of Lake’Ladoga had now turned westwards along the Neva with the object of surprising the defence lines in the Leningrad suburbs, some of which, it was claimed, had been penetrated .

At Kuibyshev foreign Press representatives were invited to a conference of 158 German prisoners-of-war. several of whom, including a former Hitler Youth leader, made

speeches declaring that the war was hopeless for Germany. The conference finally issued a declaration: ‘'Nobody has brought so much misery to Germany as Hitler. Every honest German must work for his overthrow. Defeat of the Nazis does not mean defeat for the German workers, who will vet show that they have nothing in common with Hitler’s ambitions.”