GERMANS THROW IN 20,000 TANKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24101, 21 October 1941, Page 7

GERMANS THROW IN 20,000 TANKS

STERN DECREES ISSUED IN CAPITAL Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 20, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20 The Germans are throwing in 15,000 to 20,000 tanks in their third assault against Moscow's defences, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Four panzer armies, each consisting of nearly 5000 tanks, are massed between Kalinin and OrelThe Daily Express states that panzer columns, after passing hy Tula, pushed to Ryazan, 100 miles south-east of Moscow, and succeeded in infiltrating into the Russian lines and occupying long sections of the road between Tula and Ryazan. Marshal Timoghenko threw into battle several hundred tanks, which first checked the advancing German infantry and artillery, and then, after gigantic tank battles, forced the Germans to retreat. The Russians by a counter-attack also halted the German advance in the vicinity of Meshchovsk, 140 miles south-west of Moscow. A Moscow communique reports stubborn fighting near Mojaisk and Maloyaroslavets, which is 70 miles south-west of Moscow. In both sectors fierce attacks have been beaten off. Stalin Signs Emergency Decrees A state of siege has been declared in Moscow and the adjoining districts. The Moscow radio says this is designed to secure- the rear of Moscow's defences and prevent the activities of spies and saboteurs. Another decree forbids pedestrian or vehicular movement in the streets, except by permit, between midnight and 5 a.m. The d ecree, which was issued by the Supreme Defence Council, anci signed by Stalin, says the security and maintenance of order in Moscow and its environs are under the control of the commandant of Moscow, General Siniloff, who controls the troops of the Commissariat of Internal Affairs and volunteer groups. The decree states that persons breaking this order will be tried immediately by the military authorities, and provocateurs, spies, diversionists and other enemy agents who appeal to the population to break order will be shot on the spot. The Supreme Defence Council has appealed to the workers and the police to keep calm and orderly and do their utmost to help the Red Army in defending Moscow. An order of the day signed by M. Stalin states: "Moscow will be defended to the last. The population of Moscow is keeping calm and ready to give the Red Army every help." The Supreme Defence Council has appointed General Zhukoff commander of the forces operating between 60 and 75 miles from Moscow, and General Artemyeff commander of the forces defending the approaches to Moscow. People of Moscow to Prepare Strong-Points Pravda tells the people of Moscow that they must prepare strong-points in and about the capital and fight street by street and house by house. Methods of dealing with tanks are explained. The reported recapture by Soviet forces of Orel has not been confirmed in London, but a Russian communique refers to the recapture of a town named "O." and two towns in the Kalinin area. The Germans claim that the Moscow front has been dented at a number of unnamed points, and state that the papital has been heavily dive-bombed. Tanks and aeroplanes from Britain and the United States have now arrived in the fighting line, states a Moscow report. On Friday enemy reinforcements attacked Marshal Budenny s forces in the Rostov region, but a Russian communique states that no successes were achieved and heavy losses were suffered. The Germans have made no further progress in their drive along the Perekop Isthmus, but whether the troops released by the occupation of Odessa will suffice to invigorate the enemy s southern efforts will soon be seen. The Berlin radio stated that bitter winter conditions were making big demands on the German troops on the southern front, but the enemy resistance had been broken in the entire sector.