ENEMY PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24135, 29 November 1941, Page 11

ENEMY PROGRESS

ASSAULT ON MOSCOW SLOW BUT APPRECIABLE RUSSIANS FIGHT GRIMUS IXSNDON, Not. 27 German progress on both wings of the Moscow front is costly and slow, but appreciable, according to the Stockholm correspondent of the Times, and if a similar speed is continued it will bring the Germans to Moscow's gates by the New Year. Regarding the northern positions, it cannot be said that the defence lines have been broken, because the whole area between Klin and Moscow is a dep and densely held zone, through which the Germans must gnaw a passage before seeing Moscow itself. Germans Claim Klin A German military spokesman claimed that the Germans had taken Kim. It was also claimed in Berlin that the German forces had penetrated Moscow s outer defences and were now approaching the inner defences, which line, it was pointed out, was still some distance from the centre of the city. According to information received in Stockholm, the Germans in the Klin region apparently are no nearer Moscow than at the beginning of the week, but have crept a few kilometres eastward toward completing the remaining two-thirds of the circle round Moscow, which the existing arc still leaves in Russian possession. The Germans in the Kalinin area have suffered heavy losses in the past few days. Five thousand were killed at one point and 8500 near a certain town. Deterioration in Tula German pressure in the Volokalamsk, Mojaisk and Maloyaroslavets areas appears heavier in the past few days, but Russian resistance here is unyielding, as elsewhere, and has apparently not budged appreciably. The Russians, indeed, are counter-attacking, giving blow for blow. . The position in the Tula wing, however, has deteriorated since the beginning of the week. Tula itself is almost surrounded, as a tank column from the direction of Kirsk smashed through in the Stalinogorsk region, south-east of Tula. The most advanced Germans are now striving to sever Tula's communications with Serpukhov by a leftward swing among the hills. In spite of greater progress here, the Germans are still farther from Moscow thL at Klin and Mojaisk. The strain must be testing the Russians severely, but they have been strongly reinforced ir- the past month and show not the slightest symptoms of weakening. Blows at Stalinogorsk The Germans hurled in three tank and three infantry divisions in an attempt to capture Stalinogorsk, and fighting is most intense. The enemy is suffering heavy losses, but the force of the blows is not slackening. The rout of the 240 th German Infantry Regiment in the central sector is claimed in a Soviet communique, which also states that on another sector of the central front the Russian forces dispersed five infantry battalions and destroyed 49 tanks. SIX AXIS SHIPS SUNK (Reed. 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, Not. 08 Soviet submarines sank an enemy oil tanker and five transports with troops and war materials, says a Russian r«- • port.