Russians Man Three Fortresses In Crimea

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1941, Page 5

Russians Man Three Fortresses In Crimea

(Roc. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 13. German Panzer forces have broken through the fortifications at Parpach and have driven along the railway to attack Kerch, in the Crimea, where the Russians have retired within the defence perimeters of three great fortresses —Kerch in the centre, Yenikale on the north and the twin positions of Kop Takil and Mis Takil on the south-east tip of the peninsula. The “Daily Telegraph's” Stockholm correspondent says that these three strong points must be silenced before the Germans can hope to attempt a crossing of the Kerch Strait. On Road to Caucasus The German spokesman declared that the German army is “knocking at the gates of the Caucacus and is storming the fortifications of Kerch, while German planes are roaring across the Strait to carry the war to Die Caucasian oilfields.” Moscow radio reports that fighting has flared up in the Lake Illman sector, south of Leningrad, where the Germans attempted to surprise Russian positions. Infantry advanced from three directions after only a five-minute artillery

barrage, but the Russians successfully retaliated with murderous rifle, machine-gun and field-gun fire. Fighting on Peninsula Particularly fierce fighting is in progress in the Kerch direction in the Crimea. A correspondent of the Moscow newspaper “Pravda” states that all enemy attacks have so far been repulsed by the Russian forces in cooperation with the air force and navy. Heavy fighting is also reported near Sebastopol. The correspondent says that the enemy has failed to break through in this area in spite of the bombardment of the fortifications and repeated tank assaults. A Hungarian communique claims that light forces captured further important points before Rostov and in the Sahakhti sector, about 50 miles northeast of Rostov. The rain has stopped in the Ukraine and the Russian air force has again been active. The Russians claim that they shot down 25 enemy' machines on Tuesday, the Russian losses being five planes. Five German raiders were brought down near Moscow yesterday. It is reported from Stockholm that the body of General AlexiefT, commander of a Russian division has been found qn a battlefield north of the Svir River.