STILL SERIOUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24737, 14 October 1941, Page 7

STILL SERIOUS

THREAT TO MOSCOW DEEP GERMAN WEDGES DEFENCE STIFFENING fißlVfc SLOWER DOWN ..• ■■:-.<■ :■' - :...■ -•;•.'-'••■'.'.':, •"• ' : i. ... . . '.£ I ...... ' ■•" ' ' "■:•■ I ' ■ ? ■ 'r • •' ,':, f•' i" - (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION) ''V '" V* *''.'" 7 f '• y. BJMWIC ItoEC^IW—CofVRIGHT) ;...;v LONDON,Oct. 12. Resistance to the terrific German onslaught against Moscow, which appeals to be fiercest ;i£•*>? around Viaxma, has apparently somewhat wellequipped reserves, but the threat of the German wedges driven deeply into Russian lines is still

fnmt-fadicates that the Carman drive has slowed doißsa, in comparison.

at least, with its mighty weigtjfc at the start. ■■'-'; It: is not; known, However, whether this slackening is 4ue to difficulties with the mechanifjed forces in use, to the necessity for moppingnp operations in order to consolidate the advance. If it has up it may be two or Shreeweeks before the Germans fin<Jl themselves in a position to restart the drive with all its former power. sejyere around Viazma, to which sector Marshal TimbshenUo is still bringing up reinforcements-'.'-whichare exceedingly well equipped. It is jbelieved tnjLondon that the withdrawal from Bryansk may have foiled Jhe German plan to encircle the Russian forces. •"' jn spite- of (.the reported checking of the German push northwards from Orel and the recapture of an unnamed tft-wn near Viazma, Moscow contfiues to issue a series of stern warnings! ' The Red Star's Correspondent says: ■' Our resistance is entering a crucial plUse, and the enemy must be stopped] sojnehow." Other spurces point out that the Germans contmue to suffer heavy losses. The Germans are now reported to be desperately bidding for control of the road from Viazma to Moscow. • i '.\k j ■ "^#S : {ENGAGED .:.;.,- A despatch to Moscow clainis that three battalions of wipiedj out in this sector, where the battle continues day and night .with undiminish ed ferocity. Huge forces fre feeing used by bjdth sides, and the Germans are deriving advantage at many points as the result of the numerical Superiority of their tank forces. '■ ■■, "- ' ,$ .-• ■■■■■• - ■ ;i According to the Berlin mi.T|tary spokesman* masses of Russians are enclosed in a pocket around Viazma, while Bryansk is being compressed ever closer. All Russian attempts to break through', the encircling ring have broken down under heavy German artfljlery fire. y MoScowadmits that the situation in the Orel area remains grave. Three mass Getanari attacks are claimed to have been repulsed just Of Orel, and the Germans are now massing this sector, but their movements are Considerably hampered as the result of bold Rustian air attacks. .-: ,1 | ~; . "....'' i RUSSIAN Alr| ACTIVITY The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press States that Russian bombers aref wreaking havoc among Germantanks. 1 Show has fallen heavily in the Orel region, but the Russian airmen are unhesitatingly going aloft. The German High Command spokesman to-day claimed that the campaign had entered a new phase. The Germans continue # claim big successes in the a|)uthern sector. Referring to this area, the German commentator said Hitler's predictions thaji-anyone thought. The Germans, are probably still progressing towards Rostov, and the seriousness fcf the general positim in the Ukraine is not denied :J [..• correspondent of The Times, however, believes the German claim thjjt the battle northwards of the Sea of Azov has ended is premature. The Pravda reports that Black Sea fleet airmen raided aerodromes and troop concentrations near M*»l 21 planes and inflicted heavy c

itopol arid destroyed at least asualties on two battalions.

(The* on >the eastern frorit dominates the! London press to-da;j. Everywhere the extreme gravity ck the situation is.reflected, and although without exception the questiop whether Russia will be able to resist this -"latest and greatest Germsfi offensive. >nd .continue the campaifii Wjnter is answered in theafflrioative, there is. nowhere any doubt oppressed about heavy sacrifices, both fcn the geographical sense and in equipment and men. which, our ally wou|d have to endure. The general opinion appears to be {that Hitler has put ail the resources at his disposal into tfie .present offensive in an attempt b:fth to capture the' Soviet capital and ;jnnihilate the Russian forces before >fie real winter sets in. His losses- mepn nothing to him so long as he is successful in these two aims. j The majority of writers are less certain of the Russian power to prevjnt his .the former than •' the ■ • ■ ' • -I? i

latter aim, failure in which, in spite of the possible necessity of evacuating Moscow, they express considerable confidence.

After giving an unsparing pictui-e of Russia's peril. Mr J. L. Garvin, in the Observer, turns tr the favourable aspects of the situation. He says: " Our eastern -allies are resolved unto death in their supreme battle for national freedom and against racial slavery. They know this is a direct emergency in the whole history of the Russian people. They fight with desperation in the elementary sense, but riot for a moment do they despair. In the heart of Russia, at fearful cost to themselves, but matched by the German losses, they are holding back the enemy's pressure across all the approaches to Moscow. There never has been a greater flame of national spirit in the world. The brains and resolve of their leaders are equal to the endless courage and endurance of the rank and file and of the whole psople."