ENDLESS COLUMNS HITLER’S ALL-OUT EFFORT

Evening Star, Issue 24280, 22 August 1942, Page 5

ENDLESS COLUMNS HITLER’S ALL-OUT EFFORT

RUSSIANS STANDING FIRM ON DON (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 21. .Endlass columns of fresh Germ«n reinforcements are moving up to.the Don bend, says an N.B.C. Moscow correspondent. Hitler is making an all-out effort to smash hi* way to Stalingrad. The Luftwaffe is pounding both banks of tha Don. The Russians, nevertheless, have not budged an inch during the past 24 hours on any vital sector. ‘ Pravda ’ says thousands - of - Germans, Italians, and Rumanians were killed in attacks which have not ceased for two days. Another Moscow message reports that fighting is still going on on the left bank; of -the Don - before Stalingrad. Marshal Timoshenko has thrown in strong reinforcements which are furiously connter-atcacking German shock troops who attempted immediately they landed to dig in and construct pillboxes. Russian reports describe the continuance of a fierce major battle north-east of Kotelnikovo, the latest phase of which began last Monday. The Germans yesterday hurled into a narrow sector four infantry regiments and 80 tanks, in addition to trench mortar and artillery regiments. Three regiments, , supported by 70 tanks, made a thrust in another sector, but the Russians frustrated all the attacks. The Vichy radio declared that the Rusians’ resistance before Stalingrad is generally more powerful and is holding firm on the east bank of the Don. German reports from Stockholm say the operations in the Orel region mark a new German offensive. The Vichy radio said a new German attack north of Orel is designed to relieve Russian pressure in the Vinzma area. Moscow says the situation south of Krasnodar is'increasingly grave in the , face of a further retreat by the Red ' Army, but south-west of Krasnodar incessant Cossack counter-attacks checked the German advance towards the Black Sea ports. Kuban Cossacks •:it clown several hundred paratroops ■ a two-hour battle west of Krasnodar.

MALTA CONVOY CLASH BRITISH SUCCESSES IN AIR (British Official Wireless.) (Hec. 11.15 a.ra.) RUGBY. Aug. 21. “ The battle of the Malta convoy was the biggest defensive operation the Fleet Air Arm has ever accomplished,” said a senior officer in the Naval Aircraft Division in London. “ Because the Italian ileet never molested the convoy the striking force was not required, and the torpedo-bombers never had a chance, the air battle largely being confined to fighters—Martlets and Hurricanes. Our fighters definitely accounted for 39 enemy aircraft, and probably destroyed five and possibly nine others, while our losses were only eight.

CZECHS EXECUTED CHARGES OF HIGH TREASON (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 15 a.m.) RUGBY, August 21. Twelve Czechs were excutod for high treason and espionage in Prague on Wednesday, according to advice received from the Czecho-Slovak Government in London. Among them was a former head of the Press Department at the Prime Minister’s office and some of his associates.

IN SWEDISH WATERS

FIVE SUBMARINES SUNK (Rec. 12.40 p.m.). STOCKHOLM. August 21. The ‘ Aftnnbladet ’ reports that the Swedish navy and planes have .sunk five submarines up. luting iu Swedish territorial waters recently.