BATTLES GO ON NEAR KERCH

Southland Times, Issue 24598, 21 November 1941, Page 5

BATTLES GO ON NEAR KERCH

Reviewing the position of the war on the Russian Front at a Press conference at Kuibyshev M. Solomon Lozovsky, the Soviet Spokesman, stated: “The Germans have not taken Kerch. Battles are going on near the town. The Italian and German troops have not made progress near Rostov. The situation on the Moscow front continues to improve and Soviet counterattacks are developing. Fierce fighting is proceeding in the region of Tikhvin. German and Finnish troops have not made progress in the direction of Murmansk.”

M. Lozovsky said that Britain and America were faithfully executing their decisions of the Moscow Conference. Germany’s hopes that supply routes would not be available had been shattered. Both countries could deliver — and were delivering—materials of war regularly. The war would end only when the invaders had been exterminated. GERMAN DRIVE STOPPED A German attempt to capture Rostov in the Donetz basin by a surprise flank attack had ended in a complete failure, says the Tass News Agency. General von Kleist tried to drive through Novochakhtinsk after which he intended to swing southwards towards Rostov. Against a Russian force under Commander Kharitonov, General von Kleist flung two tank divisions, one mechanized division and one S.S. division. The German tanks outnumbered the Russian tanks by six to one and the Germans -pierced the first and second Soviet defence lines, but the Russian infantry concealed in deep dugouts held their ground. From all sides Soviet artillery poured in a withering fire while tanks fell into camouflaged pits and mines blew off their caterpillar treads.

The first day’s fighting upset General von Kleist’s plans, which depended on a quick break through. The German force wheeled in all directions in its efforts to find a weak spot in the Soviet ring, but was pushed back everywhere.

Soviet planes carried out hundreds of low-flying attacks on the German tanks and mechanized columns and artillery. Over half the German tanks were out of action when the offensive was brought to a standstill. The enemy lost thousands of men. Moscow radio says that, despite the powerful German fortifications the Russians are stubbornly advancing on the Leningrad front with strong support from the heavy artillery and the air force. One Russian detachment has occupied important new positions in the past 24 hours. The Moscow radio reports particularly fierce fighting around Tula on the Moscow front. The Germans, it says, have been dislodged from several strongly-defended positions with the destruction of a vast amount of fighting equipment and also the loss of 6000 officers and men. The Russians, intensively supported by Stormovik divebombers, have recaptured strategic heights in the Crimea, says the Tass Agency. The Germans have formed a new line further back. The German prisoners declare that heavy losses are compelling the Germans to draw freely on their reserves. One infantry regiment has lately arrived in the Crimea from Greece. The Germans are repeatedly attacking, not counting the cost, but Russian infantry, strongly supported by artillery, are fighting for every inch of ground.

A continuance of the heavy fighting in the central area of the Russian Front is reported in London, where it is considered that the Germans are still searching for a weak spot in this important sector. It appears also that the Germans are renewing their offensive in the Donetz industrial region. The Soviet communique does not specify the areas “along the whole front,” which the greatest activity is taking place. A supplementary communique states: “In one sector of the central front one of our units destroyed 65 enemy tanks and armoured cars, and 35 guns. Our troops in another sector destroyed 56 enemy guns and killed about 2500 men.”