FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR PEREKOP

Southland Times, Issue 24574, 24 October 1941, Page 5

FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR PEREKOP

MARSHAL TIMOSHENKO REPLACED (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, October 23. The German attack on Moscow is still slowing • down, but the Germans have launched a new and fierce attack on the Crimean Peninsula. This push is aimed at the heart of the Crimea and fierce fighting is going on at the approaches to the Isthmus of Perekop. Describing this battle, the Moscow radio said that all night the guns roared and then, at daylight, scores of German planes came out of the clouds to strafe the Russian positions. Picked units of the German and Rumanian Armies then advanced and the Russians were forced to give ground. However, they rallied and the Axis troops, after a second offensive launched by them had died away, were forced to return to their original positions. The situation in the Donetz region is still critical, but the Russians still talk of fighting in the streets of Stalin, the capture of which the Germans claimed a few days ago. It is announced in Moscow that General Gregory Lhukov, one of the younger Russian generals, has replaced Marshal Simeon Timoshenko in the command of the Central Front, which includes responsibility for the defence of Moscow.