Evening star., 1941-12-13

The Russians followed up the:r
claims Yesterday of destruction OF
750,000-man German army before
Moscow with the assertion today
that the Red Army retook another
30 villages yesterday in the pursuit
of German forces retreating from
the Yelets areas. some 200 miles
south of Moscow the Associated
Press reported today.
The report occurred in Moscow
broadcast quoting Pravda, the Com
munist party newspaper.
Tass, the Soviet news agency, re-
ported on the Moscow radio that
Soviet cavalry advanced Is miles
and dislodged the Germans from
about 80 populated points.
Driven from the Volkhov area in
the Leningrad sector, Pravda's cor
respondent said, the Germans have
lost 5000 killed in months futile
offensive on that town and now
are ''in forests and open fields ex-
periencing grave transport difncul-
ties"
In the Kalinin sector, 90 miles
northwest of Moscow. Pravda said
German counter attacks were re-
pulsed and the Nazis were driven
back behind their starting points,
sometimes in such rout they could
not take their wounded, arms or
equipment.
Attacks Acknowledged.
The Germans acknowledged that
local Soviet attacks were launched
yesterday, but claimed that they
had been repulsed!
The Berlin radio said Soviet tank
action and fog were factors in the
Red Army's attacks. A Berlin radio
announcer said the Russians were
reported to be attacking continuous
ly, without regard to losses, and that
fierce local engagements were tax
ing place.
In one place the Russians sue
ceeded in piercing German lines, it
was said. and surrounded one bat
talon. which later was relieved by
a neighboring unit.
Supplies Abandoned.
The German setbacks in Russia
may develop catastrophically for the
invaders, London military COM
mentators said. Observers expressed
belief that the speed with which
captured munitions were adapted
for Red Army use would be a de-
termining factor.
They said the Germans undoubt-
edly were abandoning vast guam
titles of military supplies in their
withdrawal under the twin scourges
OF the attacking Russians and zero
cold.
The striking power of the Russians
in sustained offensive and the or
ganization of reserves face a winter
test. But Soviet reports, undenied
in Berlin. tell of German retreats
from both northern and southern
ends Of the Moscow sector and the
armies Of Marshal Semeon Timo-
shenko were said to be pressing the
invaders still farther westward in
the Donets Basin area.
German airmen attacked troop
positions and railways in the Donets
Basin, on the lower Don and on
the northern front with good effect,
the German communique said.
Soviet air bases southeast of Lake
Ladoga and military targets in Mos
COW were listed as objectives of night
attacks.
Germans also said that, in an en-
gagement with Soviet troops equal
to an army corps 'perhaps 10000 to
10000 mem, the Russians left 1000
dead on the battlefield and the Ger
mans captured seven Red Army
tanks.
The Germans seem to be seeking
to stabilize their line on the Mus
River, which empties into the Sea
OF Azov about so miles west of Ros-
tov, reports saying that they were
building concrete forts on the banks.
The Russians, however, claim to
have already forced crossings of the
Mus at several points, indicating