TANK BATTLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 9

TANK BATTLES

GEE MANS CHECKED SOVIET COUNTER-BLOWS FIERCE STREET FIGHTING LONDON. Oct '2l Soviet forces fiercely counterattacked and stemmed a new German thrust south-west of Moscow, says a Soviet news agency despatch from the front. The Germans, however, advanced several miles from Mojaisk, with tremendous losses, but after a terrific tank battle the advance was halted at the crossroads of the Mojaisk-Moscow highway. The Germans in the Orel region, south of Moscow, in spite of their superiority in tanks and motorised infantry. have been held down to the positions from which they started. They have lost 150 tanks and over a regiment of infantry. The Soviet has broken this carefully prepared attack, and has closed the main roads, which the Germans were using. Energetic Soviet counter-attacks have held the Germans. who are looking unsuccessfully for a weak spot.

Positions at Kalinin, north-west of Moscow, have changed hands a number of times, and particularly heavy fighting is proceeding on the left flank. The enemy in one section has retreated two miles, leaving important heights and three villages in Russian hands. Attacks Beaten OS Fighting in the Maloyaroslavets direction, south-west of Moscow, was equally intense. The enemy launched several attacks, trying to pierce the Russian lines, but was beaten off with heavy losses. The Moscow radio reports a fierce street battle in one town between large numbers of tanks and infantry. The Germans were driven out of the town and forced to retreat across a river. A German break-through at another point resulted in an all-night battle. The Russians counter-attacked and checked the thrust.

Declaring that the Russians _ have taken the initiative in the Leningrad sector, the .Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera describes a Russian landing of 4000 troops, supported by heavy artillery and aeroplanes, behind the German lines on the Leningrad front. Soviet aeroplanes swooped to a few yards from the ground and machinegunned the German positions. German Admission The German news agency states that the Russians yesterday counterattacked with great ferocity on a broad front against German troops advancing in tho Lake. Ladoga area, but the attacks were repelled. The Moscow radio states that after heavy activity by Soviet artillery one unit attacked the enemy and entered a town "K" occupied by tho Germans after heavy street fighting. sector the Germans threw in 70 tanks and tho fighting lasted until nightfall, when the enemy was repulsed. His losses were 11 tanks and many soldiers killed.

ROYALTY'S GIFTS AID FOR RUSSIA FUND (Real. <>. Bo p.m.) LONDON. Oct 21 His Mnjostv the King Ims sent a further donation of £2OOO, and the ()., ( >en a further £IOOO, to the Duke of Gloucester's Red Cross and Older of St John Fund. Their Majesties expressed the desire that £IOOO of the joint «ifl should he allocated _ to the Aid for Russia Fund, ol which Mrs. Churchill is chairwoman. Queen Mary has sent a further £SOO to the Red Cross and Order of St. John Fund, and asked that £2OO of this should be allocated to the Aid for Russia Fund.