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Otago Daily Times, Issue 24772, 24 November 1941, Page 5

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ATTACK ON CAUCASUS DETAILS BEING PLANNED (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 22. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper Evenska Dagbladets says the war in the east is gradually developing into a war of attrition. German military authorities are now engaged in working out details for an attack against the Caucasus, and troops are being specially trained for mountain warfare. The losses in Russia are particularly heavy among German officers, and many members of "historic families have fallen on the battlefields. The German forces on the Moscow front have been powerfully reinforced, particularly with artillery. The German objective is still the encirclement of Moscow, but the progress is dangerously slow in proportion to the losses. , Pravda says the situation on the Moscow front is more serious than last month, and it is necessary for the Russians still further to increase their strong resistance. The Germans are attempting to take Moscow at all costs in order to escape the winter cold. The Russians are stronger than last month, and must hold the enemy now and inflict such a blow that he will be defeated. Huge German Forces According to the Moscow radio, the German forces engaged at the approaches to Moscow are probably the largest ever used there. Concentrations of tanks and infantry opened the offensive in the direction of Volokalams, resulting in a 24-hour battle with the Germans constantly throwing in fresh forces. Russian tanks retreated to new fortified lines on the highway, which the Germans' are trying to use for their advance. Russian counterattacks checked the enemy. - Important fighting occurred in the direction of Mojaisk throughout the night with the Germans using four divisions. The enemy attacked incessantly, completely disregarding losses which amounted to 20 tanks and half a battalion of infantry in one sector alone. There are no important developments at Maloyaroslavets, but bitter street fighting is taking place in the Tula sector. Soviet units counterattacking met considerable German resistance at a railway station near Tula. A Russian gun battery on the Leiningrad front annihilated 800 Germans and destroyed six enemy forts, and a unit operating on the southern front wiped out 2000 German "Vikings." British tanks are now in action on the Ukraine front. Germans Suffer from Cold In the Baltic States the hospitals are already treating numerous German patients with frozen feet and many hospitals'in Poland are filled with such cases. The Germans are reducing manpower in the front lines by withdrawing men to the rear for warmth. The Russian position regarding reserves has greatly improved as the organising by General Budenny and Marshal Voroshilov of new armies is progressing impressively. No further fighting this winter in the Murmansk sector of the Eastern front is anticipated in authoritative circles in London. The weaker is stated to preclude such a possibility.