THREAT TO THE CAUCASUS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24131, 25 November 1941, Page 7

THREAT TO THE CAUCASUS

SOVIET CLAIMS VICTORY IN SOUTH (Received November 24, 11.30 p.m.) .LONDON, Nov. 24 Although the Russian resistance is increasing every hour on the Moscow front, the situation of the Russian capital is more serious than ever, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Fighting is growing in intensity in the Kalinin, Volokalamsk, Mojaisk and Tula areas. The Germans are bringing up new reserves in a steady stream and a new battle has been raging for the past 24 hours in the Serpukhov region, 61 miles south of Moscow. The midnight Moscow communique reports sustained enemy pressure along the entire front yesterday, with frequent Russian counter-attacks. The main battle areas were again Kalinin, Volokalamsk, Tula and Rostov, with particularly fierce fighting in the region of Klin, between Kalinin and Moscow. Freezing of Ground Aids German Mobility The German forces in front of Moscow are estimated to number 250,000 men, but they are still 50 miles from the capital at the nearest point. The Russians admit that the threat is serious. The Germans now seem to be trying to encircle the Russian flanks in the Kalinin and Tula sectors. The Germans have seized the opportunity of easier mobility as the result of the freezing of the ground and have resumed their offensive against Moscow on a scale and weight exceeding expectations, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Times. A slight Russian retreat at Tula and Volokalamsk was made in good order and the prospects of an unyielding resistance are better than during the earlier offensives. It is believed that the Germans will be unable long to maintain the present strength of their offensive owing to the inadequacy of supplies for the present rate of expenditure. The casualties are already tremendous, even judged by the high standards of the Moscow front.

Heavy Fighting in Streets of Rostov Reliable sources confirm the report that the Russians have withdrawn from Rostov, the northern gate to the Caucasus, across the Don, blowing up all bridges and destroying all factories and shipyards, but even the Germans deny the report that they have te already crossed the Don. Another report says the Russians claim that the city is not entirely in German hands. Although the loss of Rostov is very serious, another railway for the transport of oil from the Caucasus remains, while there is a further route across the Caspian to Astrakhan. The Red Star, Soviet military journal, admits that the Germans have penetrated the Russian defences at Rostov and says that heavy fighting is proceeding in the streets. German tanks reached the railway station, where the fighting was particularly fierce. The Germans are paying dearly for every yard of their advance. In the past two days the Russians have killed or wounded thousands of German soldiers, and the Russian air force in the past four days is estimated to have wiped out 4000 soldiers and destroyed dozens of tanks.

Russian Troops Advance in Sector West of Rostov The Soviet Information Bureau reports: "In_a sector on the southern front west of Rostov our forces routed the German 49th Alpine Rifle Corps and a tank division. The Russian counter-attack began on Thursday and by yesterday the Soviet forces had advanced 37 miles. The enemy lost over 7000 killed and a considerable amount of war equipment."

The Russians do not state where the battle was fought, but it is believed to have been an effort to relieve the pressure on Rostov.

The Moscow radio claims that the Russians in the Donetz Basin advanced 22 miles in two days. Miners from the Don pits stormed mountain heights and drove back the Germans. Other major successes are reported in this area, where 10 large villages have been recaptured. The Germans have lost two of five battalions. Russian Stormovik bombers are dealing terrific blows against German reinforcements.