TERRIFIC LOSSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 24 October 1941, Page 5

TERRIFIC LOSSES

FRENZIED NAZI ONSLAUGHTS OFFENSIVE AGAINST CRIMEA ENEMY DRIVEN BACK (Rec. noon) London, Oct. 23. “Izvestia’s” war correspondent, reporting intense fighting in the Donetz Basin, says the enemy lost 10.000 men and hundreds of tanks, the Red Army resisting frenzied onslaughts. Tli* correspondent also reports that in street fighting in Kalinin the Germans are suffering terrific losses. The Moscow radio in what appears to be a description of the opening of tha Nazi offensive against the Crimea, states that guns roared through the night, then scores of planes dived and drooped hundreds of high explosive shells, and picked German units launched a fierce attack against the isthmus. Russian troops stubbornly resisted, but were pushed back. The announcer described how the Germans rushed into a village like hungry beasts, looting houses, after which they started a pogrom, but retreated at dawn in the face j of the advancing Red Army. The Ger- I mans then itarted a fierce artillery l and plane attack, after which they J launched a new attack, pushing for- j ward regardless of casualties, but final- j lv wavered under intense Russian ! artillery fire and withdraw to their original position, leaving about 5000 dead. After this battle enemy ground activity slackened, but the air bombardment went on. The Berlin radio claims that the Ger* | mans secured important bauxite mines ! with the capture of Liaino.—U.P.A. j