DEFENCE OF DONETZ BASIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 7

DEFENCE OF DONETZ BASIN

DRIVE AGAINST MOSCOW CHECKED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 23. 11.42 p.m.) LONDON. Oct, OS In spite of the ever-increasing ruthlessness of the German offensives and the numerical superiority of the German forces, Marshal Timoshenko's army is still formidable, still able to manoeuvre and still intact, says the Times' correspondent on the German frontier. Moreover, the German armies are still nowhere nearer the heart of Moscow than 40 miles. Marshal Budenny's forces are still struggling heroically to prevent the whole of the Donetz Basin from falling into German hands. The Stockholm correspondent of the Times says the Russians self-consolingly emphasise the great role this area has already played in the war by working for over three months practically undisturbed. The industries there will be of little immedate benefit to the Germans owing to their devastation, while more distant parts are still busy working for the Russians, who destroy the factories only as the Germans advance. Great Battles Raging at Crimea Approaches The Germans have started a new thrust aimed at the heart of the Crimea. Moscow radio states that great battles are raging at the approaches to the peninsula. Describing the opening of this new drive, a correspondent states that the Russians first heard the roar of aeroplanes, and then scores of them burst from the clouds and dropped hundreds of bombs. Troop movements followed. After the first attack the Russians were compelled to give ground, but later the Germans had to withdraw to their original positions. A Stockholm report states that the Germans claim the capture of Perekop. The Russians are facing the greatest danger in the Donetz Basin, where the position is described by Moscow as grave. The Russians, however, claim that the enemy drive on Rostov has been halted for the present. Berlin officials have admitted that the German advance has been somewhat slowed down, as the tremendous forced marches of the past fortnight necessitate a "breather" for the troops. Vast Reinforcements East of Moscow In the Leningrad sector the Russians claim that the enemy is on the defensive rig ht down to Lake Ilmen. For the first time in three weeks no mention is made of the Moscow front in the midnight Russian communique. Here for the time being the German offensive appears to have exhausted itself. The enemy in the Orel sector is now using small units consisting of three to five tanks and a score of motor-cyclists, which are probing the Russian lines for weak spots. A.message from Kuibyshev says Marshal Timoshenko is reported to have brought up vast new reinforcements on a line east of Moscow, which will confront the Germans if they succeed in piercing or passing by the defences of the capital. Preparations for defence in depth during the winter are also going on behind the battlefront. The military correspondent of the Times estimates that approximately 45 divisions of troops from subject races are cooperating with the Germans in the eastern campaign. This is a powerful reinforcement for the Germans, even although there is no great enthusiasm for the war among some of the contingents.