-2- Central Sector. The Russians have had marked successes against the Northern and Southern arms of the German enveloping movement around MOSCOW, and the Germans have been obliged to withdraw both in the KLIN and TULA areas with heavy casualties and much less of equipment. The withdrawal in the latter area has been considerable. Between these two sectors the Germans have made a slight withdrawal in the OVENIGOVOD area, due West of MOSCOW, in order to conform with their retirement in the KLIN area. Troops in the German Salient East of TULA, which originally extended as far as SKOPIN, have been withdrawn and the line now runs approximately South from TULA to a point West of YEFREMOV and thence to LIVNI which the Russians now claim to have recaptured. The Russians are attacking along the whole of this line. UKRAINE . No change. Despite heavy casualties the Germans continue to hold the line of THEOMIUS and TAGANROG. CRIMEA . Pressure on SEVASTOPOL has probably further eased. No German attempt to cross the KERCH STRAIT is likely at present. Conclusions. After trying for over two months to capture MOSCOW the Germans decided to stabilise and withdraw to a shorter line suitable for defence during the winter. Their sustained effort under difficult conditions had however so much reduced their fighting capacity that the Russians have been able to launch and press home heavy counter-attacks along nearly the whole of the Central Sector, particularly in the KLIN and TULA areas. As a result, the German withdrawal has not been altogether according to plan and has involved them in serious difficulties. They may now well have to revise their original intentions as to their winter line. The threat to the MOSCOW-RIAOHSK-VORONQAD Railway has been removed for the winter. The situation has undergone a very marked improvement in the important central sector. The Russians now appear definitely to hold the initiative. (III) AIR OPERATIONS % 14th. A 1,200 ton merchant vessel was sunk off NORWAY by a coastal Hudson of the Royal Netherlands Air Service. LIBYA. 12th/13th. Extensive and successful operations were carried out by our fighters and bombers. Twenty Wellingtons started ten large fires at DERNA aerodrome, enemy M.T. was attacked north of EL TMIMI on the road near EL AGHEILA and in the BOMBA-DERNA area. Many vehicles were destroyed and others damaged. In addition to casualties reported yesterday, 22 enemy aircraft were destroyed, nine probably destroyed and fourteen damaged. Fourteen of our fighters and three bombers are missing. |