GREAT DRIVE BY GERMANS

Southland Times, Issue 24565, 14 October 1941, Page 5

GREAT DRIVE BY GERMANS

Big Losses Suffered (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. Though the terrific impetus of Hitler’s fourth and greatest offensive on the Eastern Front still carries his troops forward in spite of the almost superhuman effort of the Soviet resistance, which is inflicting such heavy losses on his forces, the last 24 hours have brought no substantial gains. The following communique was issued in Moscow last night: “On Saturday our forces engaged the enemy along the entire front, fighting being particularly severe in the central sector, where fierce resistance inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. According to incomplete reports 72 German tanks, 220 truck loads of troops and ammunition, 41 guns and many machine-guns were demolished. The Germans lost no fewer than 9000 officers and men killed and injured. On one single aerodrome in this sector at least 65 German planes of various types were destroyed. Severe fighting continued during the whole day in the south-west direction of the front. In heavy attacks the German forces attempted to break through our lines, but the assaults were stemmed with heavy losses for them. Our air force destroyed 100 trucks with German infantry, 150 lorries with ammunition, 15 guns and a column of mobile patrol tanks.” THRUSTS HALTED The two main German thrusts on Moscow have been brought to a halt. In one area the Germans have been pushed back for several miles. Indeed, the Soviet midday war Communique indicates that no major German advances have been made in the central sector during the past four days. The communique is similar to that issued at noon on Wednesday. A supplementary Russian communique states that in one sector of the central front Russian troops operating against big enemy units inflicted heavy losses on the Germans. During a four-day battle 4000 enemy troops were killed or wounded. Eighty enemy tanks a ere destroyed. In one sector on the north-west front (presumably Leningrad) the enemy tried to break through the Russian lines of defence and threw into the battle three regiments. In fierce fighting 2200 enemy officers and men were killed. The artillery of the Russian Baltic Navy destroyed two long range guns of different calibre and three mortar batteries.

INCREASED ACTIVITY ADVOCATED

MOSCOW, October 12. The Russian Army newspaper Red Star says that the British campaign in North Africa last winter drew off many German planes from the west of Europe. “With the German forces tied up on the Eastern Front conditions are extremely favourable for increased activity by the allies on the other fronts,” it adds. “An important condition for the success of multi-front warfare is that action should be simultaneous and that there should be the mass employment of forces.”

COMMUNISTS DEMAND AID FOR RUSSIA

(Rec. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. To the chorus of demands that Britain should take immediate military action to support Russia was today added the voice of the Communist Party of Great Britain, which stated: “The honour of Britons is at stake. If Russia is let down history will demand a terrible retribution.”

The Daily Mail in a leading article says uninformed criticism of British aid for Russia is now followed in some quarters by a frantic campaign for the establishment by Britain of a second fighting front. There is a touch of hysteria in the campaign for an invasion anywhere and at any price which could prove dangerous.”

REQUEST FOR AMERICAN

ROLLINGSTOCK

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 12. The New York Herald-Tribune states that Britain has requested America to supply under the Lease-Lend Act 200 locomotives, 20,000 goods trucks and 250,000 tons of rail steel for the Iranian railway. This might eventually become the only route to convey supplies to Russia, but Washington officials are chary of sending rolling-stock until the outcome of the present battle in Russia is clearer.