FIGHT FOR ROSTOV

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 28 October 1941, Page 6

FIGHT FOR ROSTOV

REINFORCEMENTS FOR BOTH SIDES I IKST-< LASS HATH.I I\l LC"I Il> NO ESSENTIAI. CHANGES ON \NY SECTOR (Roc, 2.0 p.m.) London, Oct. 27. The time lag between engagements on the Russian front and information as to what is happening from Soviet sources has probably considerably increased since the transfer of the bureau of information to Kuibyshev, which is an important factor in attempts to assess The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” points out that the quality of unofficial Russian news also deteriorated after the transfer of the scat of Government from Moscow and adds that, judged by official news, there are no appreciable essential changes on the front between the Arctic and tin- Black Sea, although fierce fighting continues practically along the whole front. i Axis troops with mixed light and ! heavy artillery and tanks, are still attempting to batter down the defence s lot Perekop Isthmus and crash into the j Crimea. Progress hereabout, if any. is | slow, and the Russians still confidently j declare themselves impregnable in this ! sector. The Moscow radio claims that the German; suffered tremendou lo •• in the attacks against the Crimea, in which j some units lost 80 per cent, of their efI fectives. | The most dangerous Axis effort at j present is against Rostov, where both i sides are hurrying up reinforcements I and a first-class battle is expected beI fore and in and behind the town unless Marshal Timoshenko manages to perj manently halt the enemy a respectable distance therefrom. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” quotes a semi-offi-c.al Berlin statement that Tomahawks with R.A.F. ma days participated in terrific battles over Rostov. None were brought down so it is unknown whether the pilots were Russians or British. INTENSE FIGHTING Reports reflect a continuance of intense fighting which is unabated on the central front, particularly more on the northern half ending near Kalinin, but it is reported on good authority that there has been no German advance or weakening of Russian resistance. If as unofficially reported from Kuibyshev, the Russians have really retaken Kholm and Velvye westward < f Bologgie, this may mean important Russian gains, but it certainly gives a very intricate pattern to this part of the front. The correspondent of "The Times” on the German frontier says competent neutral observers in Berlin believe the appearance of Rumanians and Finns on •he Moscow front confirms the view that the German armies are strained to the utmost. The Moscow radio declares that a Soviet unit on the Leningrad sector killed and wounded 37,000 Germans in four days in which the Russians captured six points. The Germans in this battle were cold and hungry and attacked suddenly but futility in an attempt to form new lines in an area where food and clothing were procurable. Fresh snow’ has fallen around Leningrad. VICHY RADIO REPORT According to Vichy radio the Germans have reached the town of Zveningoro, 28 miles westward of Moscow'. Soviet forces are still in possession of the town, for which fierce fighting is continuing. The Germans have also reached Klin and the neighbourhood of Serpukhov. In addition they are approaching Voskresensk. A German war correspondent broadcasting on the Berlin radio declared that the battle for Taganrog was a battle of two giants.” After the capture of Berdyansk our troops had to deal only with the Russian rearguard, but at Taganrog we met fresh Russian divisions from the Caucasus consisting of Caucasians, and Georgians. Russian planes bombed us without respite and naval arsenals and stores were burning furiously when we reached Taganrog, where factories and warehouses were converted into a huge expanse of flames. The Russians set fire to everything of value and the silent in- - lined the streets when our tanks, armoured cars and guns rumbled through with troops armed with automatics ready to shoot ” —U.P.A.