FRIGHTFUL CARNAGE IN ROSTOV BATTLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 171, 22 July 1942, Page 5

FRIGHTFUL CARNAGE IN ROSTOV BATTLE

IMMENSE FORCES

Ten-Hour Non-Stop Blitz

By Stukas

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 2.30 p.m. LONDON, July 21. The rearguard battle of the Donetz Basin has ended and the battle for Rostov has begun, says the Daily Express Stockholm correspondent. An army of 100,000 Russians of all arms stand in a stolid phalanx around Rostov, the battle for which opened with a ten-hour non-stop bombing by hundreds of Stukas.

The carnage is frightful. Russian guns and hidden mortars have been mowing down the advancing enemy on the lower Don for days, throwing up mangled bodies. Entangled battle wreckage is being washed down from tha upper roaches.

The Daily Mail Stockholm correspondent says Von Bock is employing almost the entire weight of his southern Don strength in the drive against Rostov. Vast forces of men, guns and tanks, heavily supported by the Luftwaffe, are ririving on towards the city from the north, north-east and west.

The Red Star admits that columns driving south-east from Voroshilovgrad are breaking through at different points. The Germans apparently are beyond Shakhti.