PRECARIOUS HOLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24791, 16 December 1941, Page 5

PRECARIOUS HOLD

NAZIS AT LENINGRAD IETEEAT FROM MOSCOW RED ARMY IN PURSUIT

; (IjNrrn) Press Association J - (By Electric Telegraph^-Copywght) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. v The Russians' progress is perceptibly developing ~'_,.lli!<m':Uie most important fronts. The element of pre- ■■--- cariousness has already entered General von Leeb's hold on Leningrad, Trustworthy reports indicate that General von Leeb is preparing for a further • withdrawal on the right wing. The early relief of v Leningrad by land is not improbable. :^'V'J''V; the Sea ; .\ . General von Kleist has reinforced his rearguard. The Russian advance in the basin has also been slowed down. The Axis forces are retiring in comparatively good order.' ; ; of winter (quarters included the utilisa- .. ilpn of thousands; of railway passenger cars, which explains the recent almost entire suspension of passenger traffic in German-occupied territories..-' -'•-''' '"':•'' ;''"' ■ - >-;''" The Germans are retreating, seeking to break out of the Russian traps all around Moscow," says the Kuibyshev correspondent of The Times. "General Zhukpv, assisted by 20 generals, assembled a tre-•mendous-attacking force; including tens of thousands of cavalry, which is at present engaged in[smashing upi pursuing ihe Germans. The •German;lines are; reported to be giving way at many vital points." . ;V ; The Red Star says German men and material are hurriedly being evacuated from the most northern sector of the Kalinin front. The .': Russians in the Klin area are inflicting terrible casualties and pushing back westwards of Istra, which is 30 miles from Moscow oh the'''road to Volokalamsk.> Germans entrenched in many areas have been/ surrounded and are being mown down.; The Russian advance in; the Tula and Serpukhov areas has not been checked. . » ' It is reported from Stockholm that the Finns are pressing forward - northwards of Karkumaeki.., Russian pressure is increasing in the vicmity of therSvir Rivera and on the Kareliah)lsthmus. The Russians : are shelling Terijoki, and Russian parachutists are being dropped at Wiipuri.

Whether the wide changes in the battle map of the Russian front recorded during .the. past "week are due to the Germans' strategic disengagement or whether the reason is due to timely Russian counter-attacks, the fact remains that Hitler has suffered a reverse which no prevarications of Dr Goebbels can explain away. Most of the considered British' press qpinibn, taking the line that facts speak for themselves;- is; that ? the new situation is inHgreat part, due to the.persistence ahdiheroisnivofvtha unbeaten Russian ■ armies.- - ' .':•■', w':/". I '' .Writing in the*new*paper/ Observer, iJj'L. Garvin*puts' the' matter" in a

nutshell. "By heroism and ability, by iron sacrifice, and by the organising genius of M. Stalin's leadership, the invaders of the Soviet Union have been brought to their confession of defeat in the main objects of their six months' campaign. Moscow is delivered, Leningrad stands, and our allies are making steady gains: at many points. The Russians have /recovered mastery of the air. The'Germans estimate that they have 15,000 planes. The Russians know well r.whatthey; may .have to > meet in the spring, but they are entitled to feeli a» flieyj; do, that the worst is past." ; , . ;\' •'.