Evening star., 1941-10-23
Zhukov Is New
Russian Chief
Of Western Zone
By the Associated Press.

IS miles from MoScow-almoSt tC
the suburbs of the Soviet capita
German spokeSmen said to-
night after the high command
declared the city'S western anC
southwestern outer defenseS had
been preached on broad front.
The Nazi claim of a double break
through came as the Russians dis
closed shake-up in the supreme
Soviet command on the central
front, with Gen. Gregory K. zhukov,
chief of staff. replacing the veteran
Marshal Semeon Timoshenko. Un-
der the new setup. Gen. Zhukov
takes command of the entire west
ern zone.
Although there was no definite
word that the fercely defended capi-
tai had been encircled, Germans in
Berlin expressed the belief that there
vas little likelihood the Red Army
could get any effective help through
TO bolster the city's garrison.
Day and Night Raids.
German bombers. it was said, now
are battering at Moscow by day as
well as night.
A special announcement from
Adolf Hitlers field hea dquarters
earlier today told of the break
through the outer defenses in a
hard hitting assault and said the
Germans at several places were
within so kilometers C372 miles of
the capital.
While the Germans pictured their
troops as driving almost to Mos
cows suburbs, British informants
said the Russians were turning the
Soviet capital into another Verdun
and that the Nazis we're finding the
going increasingly difficult.
ITS 20 to l they'll never take Mos
COW this winter" the source de-
clared.
Seek Soft Spot in South.
Strong German forces were re-
ported striking hard on the Southern
(Ukraine) front. jabbing for a soft
spot through which to drive into
the rich Caucasian oil fields.
Dispatches from London reported
that the Germans were taking to
the air with parachute troops and
reserve planes in great numbers.
Cited as fighting, experienced
leader" and a soldier of immense
energy" the new Red commander
was credited by the Russians with
having already tightened Moscow's
defenses.
New Post for Timoshenko.
An authoritative source in Lon
don said Timoshenko had been
transferred to another post but said
he could not divulge the nature OF
his new assignment.
after the German invasion
began last June % Premier Stain
divided responsibility for the de-
fense among a triumvirate Of
marshals - Timoshenko in the
center, fianked by Klementi Vo-
roshilov on the north, entrusted
now with the defense Of Lenin-
grad. and Semeon Budyenny,
commanding the hard-pressed
southern wing of the Red Army
IN the Ukraine.
(Stalin announced Sunday
Gen. Zhukovs new appointment
and said he should have charge
of defense and policing at the
approaches of MOSCOW" At the
same time 1t. Gen. Artemiev was
assigned to command the city's
garrison. Nothing, however, was
said of Timoshenko)
Pravda, Communist party organ,
said Zhukov had served the Red
Army for 26 years, starting as pri-
vate, and that his "gallantry and
courage are widely known"
Around him" it said there is
intense organizational and military
work without undue noise and
boastfulness or unnecessary words"
Reserve Planes Used.
London advices said the Germans,
attempting to break the bloody
.stalemate on land, had thrown hun
dreds of reserve planes and para
chute troops into the 22-day-Qld
struggle before Moscow.
ported landing light tanks, armored
cars and small field guns behind the
Soviet lines, while Stuka bombers
carried out mass raids on Red Army
communications.
A bulletin from Hitler's field head
quarters said the break-through
vas made despite severe weather
conditions.
Rain or snow by day and freezing
conditions at night prevailed over
the whole battlefront, according to
word received in London.
Latest Soviet military dispatches
acknowledged that the Germans had
scored a slight advance in the
Maloyaroslavets sector, IS miles
southwest of Moscow. pushing to-
ward the village of w" from which
they had been driven by an earlier
Russian counterattack.
Tank Threat Reported Halted.
But the Russians declared they
were holding fast in the critical
Mozhaisk sector, ST miles west of
Moscow, halting a thrust by Nazi
tanks, and that Red troops were
counterattacking heavily against the
jaws Of the German pincer at Orel
200 miles south Of the capital, and
at Kalinin, 95 miles northwest.
Warfront dispatches to Pravda
and Izvestia declared fighting was
going on in the bsrricaded streets
Of Kalinin.
The dispatches were quoted in a
Tass broadcast which told of losses
by the thousands inflicted on the
attacking Axis troops.
An Izvestia correspondent said Red
Army units at Kalinin had fought
of intensified attacks for eight days,
with the Germans hurting in masses
ef men and large numbers of me-
(ses RUSSIAN. Page A-3)