Huge Axis Armies Engulfing Steppes

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 173, 24 July 1942, Page 5

Huge Axis Armies Engulfing Steppes

PERIL OF GREAT CITIES

Germans, Italians And Hungarians Press Onward

(United Press Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 1 p.m.)

LONDON, July 23. The huge army of Germans, Italians and Hungarians which ove 8 r e ?h frTwlrD "K 2 RiVer / nd D °" Valle * Hooding and ind [ i " engulfing still more of the steppes 33Lt? sfca STStAr 1 ™ c '" pi " 8 "» The Soviet military journal, Red Star, says German reserves are moving up for the assault on Stalingrad. The Germans Sti-TSK?" the ' r , PanZer diviß ions and bringing up vast qua " titles or artillery and munitions. TImCS Sto . ck Holm correspondent reports that the Russians from fk T TG Ta"* 3 I" ore dete J: mined stan d in the arc roughly Novo k 1,1 °L AZ V' bet " een Taganrog and Rostov, through I ,!! 1 n n ° D ea9t ° f Rostov - to Donetz, near and ih n W , ? D °£- Between the junction of the Donetz h2ve nr M J ""V °PP°s»te Stalingrad German tanks on\k? H Tk V" ecce,er , ated P ac « towards Tsymlyanskaya, on the Don. The Germans claim several bridgeheads, but there is no evidence that they have anywhere crossed the Don They "I* . at P*«*nt making an effort to prevent the Russians north or the wedge from crossing.

Berlin to-day admitted that the Russians had transported large numbers of men and much material over the river The Kussians are certainly losing much material in the great angle Germans ° n * Continuousl y inflicting heavy losses on the

TTie Times correspondent adds that the terrific German drive from the Voroshilovgrad area aiming to encircle the Russians in the basin failed completely, as the move was foreseen •nd the Kussians withdrew the major part of their material to the positions now held at the mouth of the Don and around Rostov. It is impossible to say whether this arc will be long tenable, or whether the Russians will hold Rostov, which is situated on the right bank of the Don, but it is believed that the year's greatest battle is impending along the lower Don. where fresh Russian troops are in positions prepared since Christmas.

Berlin radio to-night stated that some Axis formations had already reached the centre of Rostov and the fall of the city was inevitable. It added that the Germans were proceeding Slowly with the occupation of Rostov in order to prevent heavy casualties.