DRIVE LAUNCHED TO KHARKOV

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24141, 6 December 1941, Page 11

DRIVE LAUNCHED TO KHARKOV

fresh armies thrown in NAZIS HURLING HORDES AT MOSCOW By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright " - (Received December 5. 11.22 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5 i|gr After two days of terrific artillery preparation, says a message " from Stockholm, Marshal Timoshenko is reported to have launched J a big new offensive in the direction of Kharkov. He said he was ~ using his new armies, the training of which has been completed • - since the German invasion, also dozens of fresh Russian air V squadrons. ||||; The report adds that the new offensive may prove to be the II linost powerful blow Russia has yet delivered. In the southern Ukraine 90 populated places have been -wjpreoccupied by the Russians, states the supplement to the midday Soviet communique. t' t . A battle on a scale hitherto undreamed of is raging round the ;. approaches to Moscow. The Germans are throwing more masses ' into the struggle. Heavy snow has fallen and the cold is intense. In the past 48 hours, says Reuters correspondent, the Germans si- have made no significant progress. *; "V In some, sectors the Russians are carrying out what they as an "active defence." Around Klin, north-west of Moscow, the enemy has been thrown on the defensive. It is at ;■ Dimitrov, east of Klin and about 47 miles from the capital, that

IppSlS'... '■ ,■ v, ~ the Germans have concentrated the main weight of their drive on the capital. Bitter fighting also continues in the Tula sector, south of the city, where the Germans are said to be trying at all costs to break through. ; The Stockholm correspondent of the Times says that the | German withdrawal along the Sea of Azov continues at the rate . of about 10 miles a day. The Germans will probably make a v stand at the Rrver Kalmius. Another report says that Russian troops \ from the north are reported to be moving down to encircle the enemy. \ -The Daily Telegraph's correspondent in Stockholm says the . Russian flag is flying over Taganrog while the remnants of von 1 Kleist's shattered divisions pour toward Mariupol. Bitter fighting still rages in the blood-stained slush of Taganrog's streets, where the Russian Njnth Army is cutting up the last units of the German .rearguard. The Russian advanced forces are already pushing out ; toward the River Kalmius, while the Russian Fifty-sixth Army is '. harassing the German, flank. Strong Soviet cavalry detachments occupied Khartsisk and also a number of villages and are now - threatening the flank of the Axis force which some weeks ago , advanced from Stalino north-east toward Voroshiloffgrad.