Evening star., 1941-11-24
Germans Reported
81 Miles From
Red Capital
ey the Associated Press.

KUIBYSHEV. Russia, Nov. "a
German shock troops which
drove a new wedge between
Moscow and Kalinin and
swarmed against the Red Army S
second lines of defense south and
west of the capital. put Moscow
today IN its most serious danger
Of the war.
The German high command in
Berlin reported new advance
by German vanguards from the
northwest to within 81 miles of
the Russian capital the closest
they have thrust so far
Military sources declared, how
ever. that on the southern front,
where German tanks battered their
way into the Don River port of Ros-
tov. the Red Army had launched Its
greatest counterattack of the war,
driving back the Germans in some
places as much as 81 miles across
the Donets Plateau.
The Russians declared that vio-
lent street fighting continued in
Rostov itself. The German high
command declared last Saturday
that the port was captured and
firmly in German hands,
Most Critical Period.
Military reports said bluntly that
the Red Army had entered the most
critical period in its resistance
against a fierce onslaught toward
Moscow aimed at taking most i'm
portant objectives.
In this big drive the Germans
were estimated to have hurled more
than 40 divisions-roughly 100000
men-and half their tank force
against the stubbornly defended
approaches 10 the capital.
Military dispatches said this pow
erful attacking force had thrust a
new wedge into the Russian right
wing in the vicinity of Kiln, so miles
northwest OF Moscow. in an attempt
to cut between the capital and Ka-
linin, 95 miles northwest of Moscow.
The fighting here was the near
est to the capital yet reported by
the Russians.
Fighting off attack after attack by
tank and mechanical forces, the
Russians declared they were hold
ing firmly to their positions at Ka-
linin and Volokolamsk, flanking the
new wedge.
Fierce Resistance.
Fierce resistance also was being
put up against the Nazi drive along
the Napoleonic invasion road past
Mozhaisk. 81 miles west of the capi-
tai, and near Tula. 100 miles south
OF Moscow, military reports said.
= 1t was in these sectors that the
Russians acknowledged German
gains won by sheer weight of num-
bers and said assault waves we're
battering at the Red Army's sec
ond lines.
Pravda reported that strong land
Notifications barred further Ger
man progress toward the capital
and predicted that the Germans
would encounter many surprises
in the network of barriers before
them
The newspaper said MoScow's air.
raid defense system. growing
stronger, already had brought down
more than 600 planes.
To the south, where the Russians
were counterattacking the Germans
were said to have left more than
1000 dead along a 70-mile front
northwest of Rostov. Here, military
reports said. the German 49th Alpine
Corps. Viking division and the
18th Tank Division were said to
have met crushing defeat.
Rail Towns Recapture Claimed.
To the north the Red Army
claimed the recapture of the rail
line town of Malaga Vishera, 95
miles southeast OF Leningrad. and
said the Germans had been pursued
back to the outskirts of another
city in that region.
Germans also were reported forced
back several miles from number
Of settlements west of the Volkhov
River defense line.
These offensives apparently were
designed to divert German pressure
on Moscow.
A German tank drive was said to
have forced the Russians to with.
draw from Mozhaisk
Soviet reverses were pictured alsC
In the bitter battle of Tula with
an acknowledgement that Russian
troops were being pressed bach
inch by inch under the impact o
five infantry and armored division
southeast of that munitions cente
100 miles below Moscow
The army newspaper Red Star an
nounced that Maj. Gen. Ivan Pan
filov. commander of the 9th Guards
Infantry Division, had been killed
In action defending the approaches
Of Moscow
The Russians said the Germans
first smashed into Rostov Saturday
in a ank-led onslaught followed ur
tSee RUSSIAN. Page A-4D