STILL PINNED IN DON BEND

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 262, 4 August 1942, Page 5

STILL PINNED IN DON BEND

German Panzers ADVANCES SOUTH OF ROSTOV Three Thrusts Made LONDON, August 3. The general picture on the south Russian battlefield is one of further successful Soviet resistance to the German, drive on Stalingrad, and of enemy advances in three directions below the lower Don. The Russians, yesterday admitted that a deep wedge had been driven into the defences in the region of Salsk, 100 miles south-east of Rostov, on the railway between Stalingrad and Novorossisk. Today’s Soviet communique reports very bitter defensive actions there. Don and Kuban Cossacks carried ’ out some successful counter-attacks.

In a drive 50 miles due south of Rostov the enemy have reached Kushchevra, on the railway to Baku, ami the communique reports defensive fighting by the Russians also in this area. Great losses have been inflicted by Russian planes. The westernmost enemy drive is aimed at Yeisk, on the coast of the Sea of Azov, and 75 miles south-west of Rostov. This enemy force has been engaged by marines and other forces. To the east along the Don, though the Germans crossed the river over a week ago, the defence has been too powerful for them to proceed with the threatened flank attack against Stalingrad, 100 miles to the north-east. In the Don bend the German drive on Stalingrad has been frustrated, and the communique reports that tank and infantry attacks in the Eletskaya 'area, north-west of Stalingrad, were thrown back with heavy losses.

The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says that within the Don bend as far as Zymlyanskaya opposing armies which appear evenly matched in all arms are fighting complex, fluid battles. The Russians are effectively using mass air raids, with the Red Air Force intervening, often decisively, in support of the ground forces and also attacking the improvised German advanced airfields. The German attacks within the Don bend are mainly being held, and a general intensification, of the German assault all along the line yesterday twice failed to make headway, the attackers being forced to roll back with heavy losses in men and machines.

Reports from Moscow indicate that manpower and tanks are being rushed to the Don. “Red Star” reports how a trainload of tanks, armed with machineguns and anti-aircraft guns, beat off German bombers and delivered the tanks within four miles of the battlefield. The tanks were unloaded and immediately joined in the fighting. Black Sea Fleet Attacks.

Russian warships and naval planes are repeatedly attacking the German right wing south of Rostov. Sailors and marines have landed from the Sea of Azov behind the German lines and cut up several detachments. “Red Fleet," the navy journal, states that a strong detachment of the Russian fleet attacked a German-held Black Sea port three days ago, started huge fires, and withdrew safely. Writing yesterday, the Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” said the Russians were yielding ground south of the lower Don. Only the Russian rearguard was engaged. The Germans admitted that Marshal Timoshenko has taken most of his heavy armour across the lower Don, and therefore has a first-rate army intact, which is able to resist the enemy as he is being resisted in the Don bend. A Moscow correspondent said that the German drive in the Salsk area appeared to be aimed at desolating the Manich Valley and running south-east to the Caspian Sea with an overwhelming superiority of tanks—there was, significantly, no mention of Russian tanks in this sector —enabling the enemy to make rapid progress once a break-through ig effected. However, the Russians were defending stubbornly, particularly the gunners, who were clinging to every feasible line of defence and taking heavy toll. The Cossacks were proving tough defensive fighters, but were being overborne by the German machines, which were streaming to the front under strong air cover. New Counter-Attacks. Vichy radio stated that Marshal Timoshenko was regrouping his forces and launching counter-attacks in the Kuschevka area, and that fighting was very heavy. A Moscow message said that Russian planes were swinging into the battles of Kushchevka and Salsk, relieving the hard-pressed Cossacks. The Soviet Air Force has frustrated all (jerman attempts to equip aerodromes on the southern bank of the lower Don. Night and day, mass attacks are being made on the bridgeheads and the surrounding concentrations of troops, supplies, aerodromes, and railways. These attacks are preventing the Germans from crossing the river in force ,in a number of sectors. A German communique yesterday stated that mobile formations and infantry divisions on the southern Russian front relentless!' pursued the Russians in the direction of the Kuban, and broke tile resistance of tlie rearguards. The Germans and Italians in the Don elbow captured Russian bridehetids. A message from Moscow says it has been revealed that there Ims been a bi." rojiml-up of spies and fifth columnists behind the lines. Forty-five persons were executed in one Don sector. Soviet Attack in North. , The Russians have improved their positions on the section of the front between Moscow and Leningrad, and are now threatening important enemy communications. Berlin radio reported that the Russians are attacking on the Rzhev front, northwest of Moscow.

“Pravda” declares that, on the fur northern front tens of thousands of crack German troops have been killed at the approaches to Murmansk, Kandalaksha, Loukhy, and Reboly, in attempting to capture the railway. All efforts to capture the Kola Peninsula have failed.