Evening star., 1941-10-20
Nozi Losses Nearing 100000,
Russians Claim; Invading Forces
Reported Halted Near Moscow
New Sweep Eastward
Toward Caucasus
Claimed by Berlin
By TIE Associated Press.

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Pravda declared today that
German losses on the eastern
front now are approaching 4,000.-
600 killed and wounded. but still
these accurSed loCustS come on.
according to a Moscow radio
broadcast.
The price the Germans are paying
for their gains was indicated by the
Soviet Information Bureau. which
said that in the BryanSk and Kalinln
sectors Saturday alone Russian
forces destroyed about 445 German
trucks loaded with men, fuel and
munitions, Is tanks and TO cannon.
Moscow became one vast bristling
fortress today under a state Of siege
proclaimed by Premier Joseph Stain
as the citys millions braced them
selves for the impact of advancing
German forces only 81 miles away
The broadcast of Stains procla-
nation by the Moscow radio pre-
ceded an official Soviet announce
ment that gigantic battles were
raging on two approaches to the
city, in the Mozhatsk and Maloyaro-
savets sectors to the west and SOUTH
west.
That the German drive was being
held up there was indicated by two
successive communicates. late yes
terday and at noon today, both re-
porting particularly fierce fighting
in those sectors.
Nazis Declared Checked.
Mozhaisk is 81 miles airline west
of Moscow, on the railroad running
to Vyzama, the central-front sector
where attacks and counterattacks
surged from the start of the German
Moscow offensive on October 2.
Maloyaroslavets is 65 miles below
the city on the rail line to Kaluga,
communications center about Is
miles farther to the southwest.
The Moscow radio said the Ger
mans attempted to turn the Rus
sian f1anks in the Maloyaroslavets
area but we're halted by strong
resistance
"On the central 'front.' the radio
said, the Soviet Army is holding
back the enemy and preventing him
from moving on the capital.
I'm the past day and night, the
Germans in spite of their losses have
increased their pressure-Which has
i So
1t added that the Germans re-
slmed their attacks on number OF
sectors in the Orel district. 200 miles
south of Moscow, but the Russians
successfully counterattacked"
Generally. the Russians presented
a picture of heavy fighting but sue
cessful defense.
In Berlin, the German high COM
mand declared Red Army counter
attacks on the Moscow front were
beaten back after German troops
stabbed new wedges into the Soviet
defense system and wiped out two
more Red Army groups in bitter
fighting.
Claim Advance in Rostov.
Meanwhile. the high command as
serted that the German Army and
its Italian, Hungarian and Slovak
allies are sweeping eastward anew
toward the Russian war industry
centers of the DonetS Basin and
stand within 80 miles of Rostov,
gateway to the oil-rich Caucasus,
the German high command declared.
In the southern part of the east
ern front" the high command said.
German, Italian, Hungarian and
Slovak divisions are irresistibly ad-
vancing toward the industrial area
of the Donets Also on the remain
ing sectors of the front operations
are continuing successfully.
German bombers heavily attack
rail lines and communications
systems along the entire battle front.
the war bulletin said.
DNB., which announced the new
German successes on the central
front, said the Russians were trying
desperately to pinch off the iron
(See RUSSIAN, Page AID