WEATHER GROWS WORSE

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

WEATHER GROWS WORSE

Central Sector Roads Almost Impassable (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 22. The main news from the Russian Front appears to be the worsening oi the weather. Rain is falling .in the south and in the central sector it is reported that the roads are becoming almost impassable. Commentators are of the opinion that it is therefore not surprising that little advance is reported, although stubborn fighting is still continuing. The American Associated Press correspondent, cabling from Kuibyshev (Samara), where some members oi the Soviet Government have established themselves, describes the scene behind the lines following the new German threats. “With Stalin’s Government continuing to hold, the fort in the Kremlin, Russia is relentlessly pursuing her fight against Germany,” he says. _ There is unmistakable evidence of Soviet determination to carry on the struggle, come what may. Morale is high, food supplies are adequate and a constant shuffle of traffic— military reserves westwards, civilians eastwards goes on as every preparation is made for a prolonged war. “The vast and virtually trackless hinterland is already in the grip of winter; the streams have begun _to freeze and snow is coating the plains. The railways, however, function regularly, although more slowly under the greatly increased traffic. They are carrying thousands upon thousands of troops and huge quantities of equipment. RUSSIAN PLANES IN SKIES “Russian planes steadily patrol the skies without interference ■while many of the towns and the cities bustle with new activity as they take up the work of the western centres now overrun by the enemy. The position on the battle fronts is admittedly critical, but deep within Russia activity has quickened and confidence is maintained.” The weather in Russia has markedly deteriorated. Heavy rain is falling on the southern and central fronts, where the roads are almost impassable. The Tass News Agency states that Soviet troops succeeded in stopping the German advance in different sectors of the southern front in the direction of Rostov. The enemy, unable to resist the counter-attacks, was obliged to pass to the defensive. The Germans tired to make a detour of the fortifications of Tagan-rog after several ineffectual frontal attacks. Both sides suffered heavy losses. The Russians dealt a severe blow to enemy tank units. The situation at Tagan-rog is nevertheless extremely grave. Pressure in the Orel sector has slackened. The enemy is hesitating to throw in large formations despite numerical superiority and is trying to infiltrate the Russian lines in small groups. Russian troops delivered a violent blow near Orel and inflicted heavy losses, sobering-the invaders. Three German attempts to cross the river failed and the Russians succeeded in pushing back enemy masses in some places.

A violent attack cleared the Germans from one town. The enemy left many dead. The ever-increasing tenacity of the Soviet troops characterizes the situation in the direction of Kalinin. The Germans managed to ford the river in one sector, but a fierce counter-attack routed and annihilated the enemy’s detachment. Bitter fighting continues at the approaches to Kalinin. GERMAN TROOPS SPELL Berlin officials admitted that the German advance in the Donetz Basin has somewhat slowed down as the tremendous forced marches of the past fortnight necessitate a breather for the troops. Instead of comfortable winter quarters in Moscow, General von Bock’s troops are faced with the prospect of fighting a continual war of movement to keep warm in a countryside over which snow is gradually thickening. The Russians, as realistically as ever, admit the gravity of the situation on the Moscow and Ukraine fronts, but this very realism encourages confidence when the admission of dangers from German pressure are accompanied by continuing evidence of forceful and tenacious resistance and even effective counterblows.

The Times Stockholm correspondent says the fact that Marshal Timoshenko forced the Germans to take a . breath and is able to strike back during the German pause is a great achievement. The Germans are obviously tired, but are too much awake to risk a long pause while Marshal Timoshenko simultaneously regains his strength. The most pressing German task before the real winter descends remains, as the Germans have many times explained, to destroy the Red Army as an organized and coherent force and the main strength of this army is holding at bay the main strength of the German armies baulked before Moscow, for which reason the invaders are feverishly preparing for a supreme assault.