FRENZIED DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24106, 27 October 1941, Page 7

FRENZIED DRIVE

THREAT TO CRIMEA DEFENCES PIERCED 11USSIAN ADMISSION (Reed. 7.:(0 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20 The Germans launched a frenzied offensive against the Crimea on I* riday, reports the Soviet news agency. They at first managed to push back the Russian troops, but vigorous counter attacks beat off the onslaught. A quarter of a million Germans and Rumanians are trying to break through the Perekop defences and furious fighting rages north of the giant breastwork of the isthmus. One height in this sector changed hands eight times. The Moscow radio to-day described the fighting at the approaches to the Crimea as fiercer, hut said the Germans had not achieved significant gains. They had penetrated deeply into the Russian defences at isolated places, and a critical situation had arisen because the enemy was in a position for an attack on the Russian rear. Consequently, the defenders of the Crimea faced severe trials to keep out the powerful enemy. The Soviet agency reports that the Germans in three days on this front lost 10,000 men and a great number of guns. AIR SUCCESSES DEFENCE OF MOSCOW GERMANS' HEAVY LOSSES (Reed. (>.50 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 26 General Zhvtoff, commander of Moscow's air defences, said in a broadcast that the Russians had brought down .'!•">() German aeroplanes at the approaches to Moscow, 100 of them since the start of the offensive against the capital. A Russian communique states that on Wednesday :)7 German aircraft were shot down, the Red Air Force losing 11, and on Thursday the respective losses were 10 and six. On Wednesday 24 enemy aeroplanes were shot down near Moscow, and on Friday, 17. Most of the aircraft in Friday's raid were dispersed by anti-aircraft fire before they reached the capital, and only a small number of bombs were dropped, causing a few casualties. The Russian Air Force is dealing heavy blows. One air force unit destroyed on Wednesday about 100 German tanks, over L'.jO lorries containing infantry and munitions, and routed a battalion of enemy infantry. On Friday at the approaches to Moscow Russian dive-bombers destroyed 80 tanks. UNIONS' CONFERENCE BRITAIN AND RUSSIA CLOSER RELATIONSHIPS (Recti. 12.20 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 26 Moscow radio stated that Sir Walter Citrine, secretary of the British Trades Union Congress, and Mr. Frank Wolstencroft have returned to Britain after the Russo-British trades union conference, which drew up an eight-point programme as follows: (I) To unite British and Soviet trades unions in organising mutual aid against Hitlerite Germany; (2) to render all possible assistance to the British and Soviet Governments in the war; (3) to strengthen the industrial effort for the maximum increase in the output of war materials; (4) to advocate the maximum assistance with arms by Britain for Russia; (5) to employ all means of propaganda in the war against Hitlerism; (6) to give all possible assistance to the peoples of Ger-man-occupied countries in their fight for liberation, independence and the restoration of democratic liberty; (7) to organise mutual aid and the exchange of information between the trades unions of Britain and Russia; (8) to organise personal intercourse between the trades union movements of Britain and Russia. The Russian delegates accepted an invitation to visit England.