HUNS HIT HARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 168, 18 July 1942, Page 5

HUNS HIT HARD

RJEV AND BRYANSK

Enemy Pays Heavy Price In

Offensives

United Press Association.—Copyright. Reed. 2 p.m. LONDON, July 17.

A Moscow message reports that the Germans on the Rjev front, west of Moscow, have advanced several miles in the past few days. Their losses have been heavy. There is at present a lull on this front, but a renewal of the attack is expected at any moment.

Red Star reports that the Russians have launched a series of successful counter-attacks on the Bryansk front, and recaptured several localities where they found 2000 German dead.

Russian Stormovlk bombers blasted two German concentrations behind the Bryansk front, wiping out about 5000 troops. The Vichy radio declared that German motorised units advancing along the coast of the Sea of Azov have occupied Sinjavsk, a small town 15 miles from Rostov.

In stating that panzer columns are driving toward Rostov and Stalingrad, the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Mail says the Russians, heavily supported by tanks, are offering fierce resistance to the further advance toward these two towns.

A special Soviet communique states that the Germans have suffered huge losses in the terrific fighting of the past two months. German losses in killed, wounded and captured totalled 900,000. of which 350.000 were killed or wounded. The enemy also lost 200,000 guns, 2900 tanks and at least 3000 planes.

Russian losses in the same period were 399.000 killed, wounded and missing, 1905 guns, 940 tanks and 1354 aircraft.