Panzers Checked With Heavy Loss

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 265, 7 November 1941, Page 5

Panzers Checked With Heavy Loss

DECISIVE BATTLE FOR MOSCOW LONDON, Nov. 5. Earlier reports stated that except at one or two points, all German attacks on tho Moscow front are being firmly held, but the Germans aro still advancing in the Crimea. Berlin to-night broadcast eight items of news, every one of which spoke only of repulsing Kussian attacks or beating back Russian counter-attack®. “The Germans are now definitely on ilie defensive in the Mozhaisk area, west of Moscow,’ 9 declared the Moscow radio to-night. It added that the Russians last night destroyed 67 German tanks and wiped out large numbers of infantry in the Mozhaisk region. The Germans brought up ifresh tanks and renewed their onslaught, supported by artillery and mortars, and simultaneously attempted several crossings of the Naro River, but all attacks were repulsed. The Russians recaptured a village and continue to consolidate their positions around Mozhaisk, and they are powerfully replying to the German shelling.

*‘ All German attacks in the decisive battle for Moscow have so far been checked, but the position is serious,” stated the Soviet spokesman, M. Lozovsky, to-day. “Nearly 100 German divisions are believed to have been brought up to the Russian front from the occupied countries, leaving only 28 divisions to maintain the occupation of the conquered countries.” Izvestia says that the Volokolamsk sector, slightly north of Mozhaisk, is receiving the brunt of the German onslaught against Moscow. The Germans, it adds, confidently opened the offensive by sending in groups of tanks 100 to 150 strong. However, the Red Armybroke the enemy’s confidence and destroyed 27 tanks in one action and 20 in another.

The Germans, fearing heavy losses, changed their tactics, and their mechanised units showed greater caution, advancing only 100 yards ahead of the infantry and retreating as soon as they encountered Soviet anti-tank defences.

One group of Soviet artillery, says Izvestia, damaged 69 enemy tanks, and another put out of action 51, while another destroyed 45. Only their manifest numerical superiority enabled the Germans to advance, but they paid dearly for a gain of about a mile a day, the soil being literally soaked with blood. The Germans are now drawing on their reserves, and attempting to probe the Soviet defences for weak spots. The Red Star, organ of the Soviet Army, reports that sanguinary fighting is in progress in Crimea. The Germans are doing their utmost to accelerate the advance and have succeeded in some places in pushing back the defenders. However, the whole German advance has somewhat decreased in the last 24 hours. The enemy is sustaining tremendous losses, but the Crimea is still endangered, the paper adds.