MOJAISK TAKEN AFTER TERRIFIC BATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 24649, 22 January 1942, Page 5

MOJAISK TAKEN AFTER TERRIFIC BATTLE

NAZIS SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES (Received 1 a.m.) LONDON, January 21. The latest Russian communique states that the Soviet forces are already driving west from Mojaisk, which was recaptured on Monday. Mojaisk was the only remaining enemy stronghold in the Moscow region. The Russians are pushing on rapidly from Mojaisk in an endeavour to cut off the retreat of the German forces by the only available road to Smolensk. In addition to the capture of Mojaisk the Soviet communique announces the capture of the district town of Ostashevo, in the Valdai Hills. Describing the capture of Mojaisk, a Tass Agency correspondent says that after storming German defence lines consisting of a great number of machine-gun posts, pill-boxes and fortified trenches Soviet infantry broke through to the town’s south-western suburbs, beating off all enemy counter-attacks. Simultaneously another Soviet infantry unit after annihilating German automatic riflemen firing from houses, penetrated the northern suburbs. Fierce fighting followed but the Soviet forces rapidly advanced to the centre of the town and hoisted the Red Flag on the town hall. The Germans suffered enormous losses in men and equipment. The streets of the town were littered with abandoned guns, machine-guns, lorries and other arms. German prisoners captured at Mojaisk said the defenders were ordered to hold the town at all costs. Each house was a fortress. The Germans had huge stocks of ammunition in Mojaisk which they were unable to move.