TERRIBLE COLD

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21600, 10 December 1941, Page 6

TERRIBLE COLD

CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA GERMANS DISAPPOINTED SOVIET TAKES INITIATIVE (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 9 The Russians claim further successes against the Germans who are attempting to take Moscow. On the west of the city the Red Army has chased the enemy from several heights and the reports state that many German soldiers have been found frozen to death. In all other sectors the Germans have not been able to make any progress at all. The German authorities dismiss the Russian war today by three words: “Some local lighting.” A German communique stated that the continuation of operations on the Eastern front was now determined by the start of the Russian winter. Only local actions were occurring on wide areas of the front.

A military spokesman in Berlin, referring to the communique said the German army did not expect to capture Moscow this year. He added that the cold on the Eastern front was so terrible that oil froze in motorised vehicles and soldiers trying to take cover simply froze to the ground. Fighting under these conditions was practically impossible but this did not mean that the front had become stagnant or fixed. The Times’ Stock.holm correspondent says possibly there is a connection between German complaints of cold freezing motors on the Eastern front and news that all available non-freezing mixtures under private ownership have been sequestrated in the greater part of Germany.

The Berlin radio stated: “Only with the utmost ruthlessness and lack of consideration for life can we advance against Moscow.” The Russians are taking the initiative on the Moscow front after having brought all German attacks to a standstill, says a Kuibyshev statement, which adds that the Russian air force was once again on top in the Moscow region, where it is taking great toll of German tanks. “Another heartening sign is the heavy losses being inflicted on the enemy,” adds the statement. “At the same time we must not forget that the Russians are also suffering great losses.” The Moscow newspaper Pravda \ says the Russians have driven the enemy from the whole length of the Serpukhov-Tula highway, south of Moscow. The Germans are retreating south-eastward, abandoning tanks, lorries and arms. Raid by Russian Warships A daring raid by Russian warships is reported by the Daily Express Stockholm correspondent. Coming from Sebastopol, the Russian battleship Pariskaya-Kommuna escorted by three cruisers and several destroyers made a lightning raid along the shores of the Sea of Azov and caused panic among von Kleist’s retreating troops. The raid greatly surprised the Germans who never supposed the Russians bold enough to send ships through Kerch Strait, the western side of which is dominated by German guns. With 12in. guns the battleship shelled the road between Taganrog and Mariupol which skirts the shores of the Sea of Azov. Then the warships turned west and bombarded Mariupol for. 15 minutes, destroying most of the fortified positions which the Germans had built around the city. After the raid the warships without loss returned to Sebastopol. Russian fighters helped to beat off the German bombers.

A Berlin spokesman claimed that Taganrog was still in German hands.

The Swiss radio announced that the Finns have captured Povyenets, north of Lake Onega.