RUSSIANS STAND FIRM

Southland Times, Issue 24576, 27 October 1941, Page 5

RUSSIANS STAND FIRM

German Thrust At Kalinin LONDON, October 24. j M. Solomon Lozovsky, the Soviet j Spokesman, announced at Kuibyshev that the German offensive in Mojaisk and Malo Yaroslavets sectors has been checked. Fighting continues in the Orel sector, but the new main German thrust seems to be developing at Kalinin, half of which is still in Russian hands. He said that the Germans have lost several hundred thousand men in the new battle for Moscow and that the | fighting is growing fiercer every moment. ■‘We can resist for- several years. It remains to be seen how much longer the Germans can stand their losses,” he said. “German propaganda has alleged that the Soviet cannot organize new formations. The Soviet armies have not only not been destroyed, but also enormous forces are being trained under Marshal Budenny and Marshal Klementi Voroshilov. The Germans I will soon have practical proof that the Soviet forces, far from being used up, are increasing daily.” NEW OFFENSIVE The Soviet newspaper Pravda says that the Germans launched a new offensive in the north-western direction, particularly in the direction of Lake Ilmen, simultaneously forcing an entry into Kalinin. Stubborn fighting has continued for several days, but it is now possible to say that the enemy’s plans have been frustrated and heavy losses have been inflicted. Other reports say that the Germans are bringing reinforcements into the central sectors, Finns from the Leningrad area and Rumanians from the south. The Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter says that the weather has crippled the famous German motor-cycle and bicycle battalions. The men are dragging their machines on foot through the mud. The Germans says that frost will be necessary for any decisive operations. Berlin officials say that the weather on the Russian front is appalling, with driving rain and snow-storms. On the central and southern fronts the armies are struggling through seas of mud. These factors, together with the bogging of transport, are alone delaying the German advance. The Russians are blowing up all industrial plant as they retreat and are fighting strong rearguard actions. A message from Kuibyshev says that, according to statements by recentlycaptured prisoners, the German High Command is now trying to drive the troops on to Moscow by declaring that to halt at the present moment would be equivalent to defeat. The latest reports indicate that new Soviet reserves are now participating in the battle for Moscow. A famous Soviet Division which distinguished itself in the Finnish campaign has been for some days holding the neighbourhood of the highway where Napoleon fought. This division is battling for every yard of territory. Villages have changed hands several times. BERLIN’S ADMISSION Berlin radio admits that the Soviet is throwing in large forces in the Moscow region. It says that the Red Army is attempting to hold up the German advance by blockading the roads and destroying billeting facilities. The Tass Agency reports that renewed German attacks against the Crimea were repulsed with the loss of more than 2000 killed and wounded. The Germans in three days on this front have lost 10,000 men and a great number of guns. Pravda says a new German thrust south of Leningrad was repulsed. The Germans lost 2500 men. The Russians shot down 24 raiders attacking Moscow last night. It is announced in Berlin that Colonel Schubert, commander of the Silesian regiment, was killed at the head of his regiment during an engagement near Toropets.