Struggle For Caucasian Oil Has Begun

Northern Advocate, 19 November 1941, Page 5

Struggle For Caucasian Oil Has Begun

(Rec. 2.30 p.rn.) LONDON, Nov. 18. • It is generally considered in Berlin that the fall of Kerch on the eastern point of the Crimea, that the struggle for the Caucasian oil has begun, says a message from Stockholm.

German military quarters state that the crossing of Kerch Strait, which is 22 miles long, and from two to 22 miles broad, with a minimum depth of 14 feet, presents no serious problem. They anticipate that the British ivill take over the defences of Baku oilfields and although there are no reports yet of British planes based ore Iran operating against the Germans , this development is expected soon. Air-Bcrne Attack? The Soviet news agency says the Russians are sowing minefields in the Kerch Straits, which separate the Crimea from the Caucasus, and are bringing up squadrons of Stormovik dive bombers to prevent the Germans from sweeping a cnannel. The Russians believe that the Germans may make an attack with airborne troops to gain a footing in the Caucasus and are preparing to meet such an attempt. A Berlin; spokesman boasted last night that the straits would offer no appreciable obstacle to the German forces. Information in London is that the situation in the Crimea continues to be grave, but there is still no confirmation of the German claim to have taken Kerch. Germans Panic The German efforts on the Moscow front, on which the Germans are being held at all points, have precipitated fierce fighting at Kalinin, where the Germans have been thrown back, and also at Tula. The Moscow newspaper “Red Star” says the Germans were driven from the southern outskirts of Tula in panic. They left the battlefield strewn with hand-grenades, rifles, machine-guns, artillery and even tanks. The Russians report fighting on all fronts, with especially fierce fighting in progress in the Kalinin area, and in one sector of the south-western front, this not being specifically named. Leningrad Not Surrounded In the Leningrad area the Russians are keeping up their attacks on the German lines. At one point, Moscow states, the Russians have broken through positions held by the Germans for more than two months. Leningrad, it is stated in London, has not been completely surrounded, and there is still communication with the rest of Russia. The Soviet news agency reports that the Russians have been successfully attacking the eastern bank of a river on the Leningrad front, where the Germans have been driven from strongly fortified positions. The Russians beat off six counter-attacks, killing' or wounding 600 Germans, and the fighting continues. Captured Germans wore canvas underwear and‘ womens’ shawls for warmth. A Finnish communique states that a Russian attack on the Svir River, was repulsed. Fighting is continuing on the Karelian Isthmus. Soviet aeroplanes on Sunday are reported to have put out of action 60 enemy tanks, 250 trucks and 14 field guns, and to have destroyed two infantry regiments.