FATE OF ROSTOV

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

FATE OF ROSTOV

NO SOVIET ADMISSION DEFENDERS' RESISTANCE PROTECTING OIL SUPPLY LONDON, Not. 2®

There is still no confirmation by the Russians of the claim by the Germans to have captured Rostov, on the western bank of the wide and swiftly flowing Don, which, even though this important city haa fallen, should prove a considerable obstacle to the Germans' advance toward the Caucasus.

Marshal clearly offering the fiercest resistance in this sector. The preservation of the oil of thd Caucasus and the sea route from the oil wells of Baku to the North Caspian port of Astrakhan is of the first importance to the Russians. That the weather, at. least on tha southern Russian front, is not preventing widespread effective operations by the Red Air Force, is indicated by the supplement to to-day's Soviet communique. It states that Soviet aircraft operating over the southern front destroyed 47 enemy tanks, 392 lorries with infantry and war equipment, 115 cara with army supplies, six buses, and 10 guns, and routed 1600 enemy troops.

SOVIET OIL NEEDS LONDON, Not. 23 The current issue of the London weekly journal Economist points out that the oil resources of the IJrals ara not yet very fully developed, and are certainly not adequate alone to meet the demands of the vast and growing Russian industry east of the Volga.

LULL ON ARCTIC FRONT LONDON, Nov. 23 No further fighting this winter in tho Murmansk sector of the eastern front is anticipated in authoritative circles in London. The weather is stated to preclude such a possibility.

SOVIET GENERAL KILLED LONDON, Noy. 23 It .is reported from Kuibyshev that Major-General Panfiloff was killed on the Moscow front a week after his rifld division received the honour of the Red Banner.