GRAVE SITUATION IN RUSSIA EMPHASISED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 166, 16 July 1942, Page 5

GRAVE SITUATION IN RUSSIA EMPHASISED

COLOSSAL EFFORT

Hitler Confident He Will

Forestall Allies

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, July 15

Although the German progress has slowed down in the battle of the Don and a slight slackening in tank pressure is reported after the terrific pummelling to which the panzers had been subjected, the Russian authorities emphasised the gravity of the situation at a foreign Press c.-ference at Moscow.

The Times Moscow correspondent states the Russian spokesman pointed , out that Hitler was throwing ten j times as many men and five times , as many tanks against the Don as } against the Nile. The appearance - on the Don of German divisions from France clearly indicated Hitler's con- ( fidence that he would be able to out- ( pace the Allies and strike decisively , against Russia. While another front ' is still in the early stages of organisation Hitler aims not only to seize the rich territory, but force the Soviet to use their operative re- ' serves, thus reducing their eventual ; striking power in co-operation with the blow from the west. The reserves are so far intact, but the territory under threat cannot be abandoned with the same confidence as that yielded during last year's fighting withdrawal. The Times Moscow correspondent states that the margin of territory which can bo lost now is very narrow. Swift Aid Imperative It is dangerous to over-estimate the power of Soviet resistance — military, economic and political. It should be realised that only the grimmest determination to mobilise all the available Allied forces to engage them as quickly as possible in this battle can retrieve the situation. The Moscow message says the Germans are estimated to be using 80 divisions—the total hurled against Moscow last year—in the Don battles, also 4000 tanks and 3000 planes. The midnight Moscow communique announces the evacuation of Boguchar and Millerovo. The Moscow radio says the Germans on the Kalinin front have lost 5000 killed and many tanks in six days' ceaseless fighting, mostly in an attempt to recapture a section of a vital road between two larger forces. The Russians captured the stretch of road in a surprise attack and rapidly fortified the height commanding the road. The Germans made mass attacks on the height, but were repulsed with heavy losses of men and armoured vehicles. The Times Stockholm correspondent says the Germans are maintainI ing heavy pressure south-east of Lisitichansk, also from the Chert-kovo-Millerovo sector of the Voro-nezh-Rostov railway. This movement is designed to induce the Russians to withdraw from their positions bulging west from Taganrog under the threat of encirclement. The Russians show no signs of retiring. The German frontal onslaught towards Rostov is likely to precipitate the year's most furious battle. Elsewhere Marshal Timoshenko is retreating methodically under pressure, without serious disorder, as though the withdrawal were foreseen as a probable necessity. It is certain that such a complicated large-scale movement is no mere improvisation. Earth Stained Deep Crimson The Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent says the battle for Voronezh, which is the bloodiest and fiercest of the whole war, has reached its zenith. The Russians and Germans are crowding more and more reserves into the fork between the Don River and the Voronezh River. The Germans are trying to squeeze out the Russians by flanking drives through the semi-rural northern and southern suburbs, ana also by attempting to widen their encirclement. The Russians are fighting back with unexampled fury, while striking with some success at the northern German flank. Several thousand tanks are battling in the once verdant fork to crush down everything. On the city's approaches mangled wheat crops and rich black soil are •stained a deep red around countless r heaps of shattered bodies. Never was the quiet of a rural scene so suddenly and swiftly churned into Polakoff, a Soviet tank commander, said: "Our tanks are gnawing through the German defences on the • northern flank, although the enemy : several times daily sends in strong ! tank groups under air support. The I Germans are attacking with savage r violence and rushing up * colossal amount of material. At least half ' the tanks are knocked out in each ' engagement.