BIG NEW FORCES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 165, 15 July 1942, Page 5

BIG NEW FORCES

SHOCK FOR GERMANS

Russians Gain Important Line

In Centre

UiP.A. and Hrittsft WlreieM. Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, July 14. jr he „ Soviet Alr Force, i n attacking nTn^" 11 " 1 aerodromes, destroyed 1 13 Planes on the ground. co . w messages say the Soviet hv «2! ceaseless counter-attacks by day and night, succeeded yesterrVcapturQ?g an important line in the Voronezh sector. The countermade alon ? a wide front against the enemy's left flank on the banks of the Don. Soviet tanks cavalry and infantry crashed into the enemy s defences on this flank, forcing the Germans to retreat southwards. Thousands of Germans were killed or taken prisoner. It is apparent from front line dispatches that considerable reinforcements in tanks, aircraft and men re ? ch ed the Soviet forces, enabling them to take heavier toll of tne enemy and also to recapture villages near Voronezh. Tank battles continue between the Don and Voronezh Rivers, and although the Russians are destroying enemy crossings several bridgeheads are functioning. The serious position which it was feared would result from the Germans establishing a large bridgehead at Voronezh is considered in London to have arisen. An army group has broken through, and it remains to be seen in what manner von Kleist will be able to exploit the new position east cf the Don. The line from v oronezh north-westward apparently still holds firm on the flank of the German advance.

Further south the Russian armies between the Don and the Donetz evidently have been able to withdraw in good order on the line between the Don, near Boguchar, and the Donetz.

Confidence in the victory of the Russian forces is expressed by M. Lozovsky, Soviet Information Minister. In an interview in Moscow he told British and American journalists that, in the first round the Germans advanced, in the second round the Russians advanced, and now the Germans were advancing ag®.in in 'he third round. He was expressing the views of those In authority in Moscow when he stated that in the fourth round Germany would get the knock-out blow.

The military writer of The Times says the gravest threat is the disruption of Russian communications. This does not affect Marshal Timoshenko s armies, which have behind them supplies and communications probably adequate for all purposes, but it affects the armies of the centre and north, which already must be handicapped by the cutting ? i j, north-south communications, Including the main road through

| If Hitler did not draw a drop of Russian oil, adds the writer, he would still derive immense benefit from cutting off the supply to the Moscow region, or diverting it to roundabout routes of long mileage and low capacity. The threat to Russian food supplies also is serious. The circle round Voronezh covers some of the richest corn lands, and a large proportion of the growing crop is now in the hands of tne enemy.