Evening star., 1941-11-30
Germans, Admitting
Rostov Withdrawal,
Claim Other Areas
Crimeun Port and Cities
Northwest Of Moscow
Declared Captured
~ the Associated Press.

n the Associated Press
BERLIN, Nov. 29.-German forces
at the northern gate to the Cau-
casus have fallen back from the
principal sections of Rostov-on-
Don, relaxing their hold on Stra-
tegic European prize of war for the
first time since the temporary with
drawal from the Norwegian port
OF Narvik in the spring of 1910.
The German press claimed that
Balaklava, the Crimean port just
southeast of the RuSSian-held naval
base of Sevastopor, had been occu-
pied.
At the same time D. N. B. de-
clared that VolokolamSk. Kiln and
SolnetSchnogorski had fallen to a
sweeping drive on Moscow from the
northwest.
Solnetschnogorski. 81 miles north
west of the capital and Kiln, so
miles northwest, are on the road
and rail lines from Moscow to Ka-
west. IS miles from Moscow.
Announcing the German with
drawal from RoStov. on the southern
front, the high command marked
the town for severe repriSals on
account of civilian participation in
the fighting.
Called Strategic Prize.
When the Germans announced
the capture of Rostov a week ago
they termed the river port one of
the most strategic prizes of the
campaign.
The communlque reporting the
withdrawal told of powerful Rus
the Rostov area to the Donets River
bend and said the Red Army was
eXpending its strength recklesSly.
Each report emphasizes the bitter
ness of the fighting.
The high command charged that
RoStov citizens were participating in
guerrilla warfare on the rear of the
German lines.
Occupation troops of RoStov, in
compliance with orders. are evacu-
ating the central district of the city"
the war bulletin said, lin order to
make the most thorough prepara-
tions for necessary measures against
the population which, contrary to
international law. participated in
fighting at the rear of the German
troops
The communique mentioned the
withdrawal from the "Engere Stadt-
gebiet," and this was interpreted
generally to mean the built-up sec
tons of the city. The nature of the
planned reprisals was not disclosed.
Called Planned Step.
A German military spokesman
said of the high command communi-
que:
Through this evacuation the op-
portunity is offered to show the
Rostov population its proper place
according to international law.
The Russians perhaps now will
report that they have recaptured
Rostov. There can be no talk of that.
This was a planned step by the
German leadership in order to make
International and martial law duly
respected
The Spokesman said the Russians
not only maSSed troops in the RoStoV
area but also in the bend in the
Donets River. where ruthless
counter attacks" by the Russians
were in progress.
The Russians he said. ARE
pursuing the policy of not taking
into account sacrifice of masses OF
men if success, even if only sham
success. is to be obtained.
Heavy Losses Claimed
They went so far as to arouse
the population of Rostov, contrary TO
international law. to fight at the
backs of the German soldiers
From the whole southern battle
front, reports stressed the heavy
price the Pussians were paying for
their counter attacks.
Russian losses also were empha-
sized in reports from the central
front where the fight swirled into
attacks and counter attacks.
In fighting around Leningrad the
Germans said they repulsed Rus
sian efforts to break through siege
lines A Russian battalion at
tempt to cross the Neva River in
rubber boats ended disastrously with
all but one boat sunk, the Germans
Soid