WEDGES DRIVEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1942, Page 5

WEDGES DRIVEN

INTO GERMAN DEFENCES WEST OF MOSCOW

Soviet Encirclement Threat CONTINUED HEAVY FIGHTING IN CRIMEA RUSSIANS CLEARING KERCH PENINSULA LONDON, January 5. Moscow reports the development of a double pincers movement threatening the Germans in the Mojaisk area, west of Moscow. The Russians are driving a wedge into the German positions from Mojaisk in the north-west and from Kaluga in the south. This may threaten the whole German position in this sector The Germans report an air attack on Russian positions and shipping near Theodosia, in the Crimea, but do not say how the attack resulted. “Pravda” states that Soviet troops and men of the Black Sea Fleet are driving the enemy out of the Kerch Peninsula and that the enemy is suffering heavy losses of material. Some particulars are given of Italian losses on the Eastern front. It is stated that these amount to 8,600 men. An Italian captain taken prisoner is reported to have said that the morale of the Italian troops is low. Disputes over the unequal distribution of food often ended in fighting between German and Italian soldiers.