Zhukov Appointed Stalin’s First Deputy

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 206, 29 August 1942, Page 5

Zhukov Appointed Stalin’s First Deputy

LONDON, Aug. 27. The. Soviet midnight communique .oports a Russian withdrawal from Prokhladnaya, 8U miles west of the Gronzy oilfields, in the Caucasus. The Germans claim to have captured aiosdok, 3u miles nearer the oilfielus, but „.us is not confirmed. The Russian ouensive on the front of kxoscow continues to mane progress, and Rjev, German strongnoia west o*. tne capital, is reported to be in imminent danger. One agency mesoage say„ that the nortuern auouros are in KuaSian hands, fooviet troops on this front aave occupieu severai more popu*ateu places. The Russians deacrioo tne German resistance as obstinate, and say that there is fierce ligating for ever.) mmse and street. General Zhukov, who is in command jf the Russian offensive on the centrui Aiont, nas been appointed . Premie* otaiin’s first deputy as Commissar oi xieience. Moscow announces that Russian pianes oornoeu Renin and other pomto .n Rasi, iNortn-east and Central Ger many last mgnt. xhe announcement of General Zhu kov's ouensive on the central xrom was the signal xor violent German extorts against Btaungrad and in tne Caucasus. ±ront-nno dispatcues say mat tne tana oat Les have reuened un uenevauio lerocity, particularly norta west ox otaungrau. The Germans iu some sectors nave a superiority qi tnrec to one, out tne Russians nave Drougu* in nunureas of tanas ana scores u. pianes anu nave inflicted enormous losses on the enemy. German regimonts have been bleu •*uue, out, as always, the Germans have nung in new reserves, not relaxing tuei. pressure lor a moment. xne Moscow radio says that von Boon now nas i,uOU,(JUU men concentrated xo* ms otaungrau ouensive. A Moscow message states that a terrinc tana battie nas been raging xo. tne second day and nignt nortn-west oi otaimgrad, with hunaieus of tanas anscores ox pianes massed on either side, xho Germans, who have sustaineu enormous losses, with many regiments oled white, are reported to oe steinmeu uut, as always, new reserves are Drought up and Hung into tne oattie. Rarge-scme oognguts in tne air are a xrequent feature ox tne present oatues. xne Russian newspaper xzvestia says mat the Germans have brought in theu best Luftwauo units, soviet bomber* and anti-tanx btonrmviks nave raided successxuuy some enomy aerodromes and wrecked scores of pianes wmen we rp reauy to take off. Tne vicuy radio declared that the Germans naa captured Mosdok. xne Rome radio reported that ngnting iu me Vvestern Caucasus was going on 1U snowstorms at a neignt ox nouu ieet. The German news agency declaim. cnat the outtie xor otaungiad nad a* Burned a particularly bitter efiaraete*. xt added: *‘ xue Russians are eomue* attacking beiore tne city.” Tne fstocknoim newspaper Tiduingc stated that tne Russians were iaunuuin b particularly violent attacks against thv. xtauan lines north of totaungrad. xu. Russians were exerting enormous pressure.

As on the Stalingrad front, the Ore. Ilian reuuoroemeius m the .eein enaiess. rhe Russians nere are ainousning tne Crerinans witn anti-tanh guns anu artillery, destroying men anu material and regemug constant attacks, out tne position remains serious.

•t ierce ngnting is rag.ug aiong tne miiway to erroany. orunny s peru nas oeen mcieaseu Dy tne ueruiuu advance to nrosaoa, aronr wmen roaus lean to cxrozny aau aiso.to Viaunsaviuia, inm tueuce to runs, xaese roaus are moantainous, out surtauie to me type u. operations now in progress. uenerai sauniv , torces have mauo a new au.once w«.|, anu uortn-weoJ o. -mscow, nave ca r ...0a io more run., ueu vnioges, anu nave re-icaeu too mjev-viaima rat. way. tierce Datties U.e raging oet.ieou rtjev anu „,n----uvna. *

rue main attaint against Ljev 1. ooiug mauo arum tne noltn anu uurtUwtst. rtuys.au luug-rungo guns am oneumg me town, wuero mo ciermaiis 0.0 ngnting nerce.y witn artmery auo nimeiurono.s. tut, cermau losses am very ueavy.

r.ed otar, organ oh the Kussian Army, says mat ueuerar gnuuov s oirensrvo continues, wrtu tanas anu puium oinasuing tumugu anu lurantry griuumg Germau manpower. xne o/igiuai oreuK-through in tu*.*ss.au uiionsive in me dnectiou ox ■u-jev was on a xroiu ox omy bix im.**. xue xvusaiuiia massed troops in a woou near Rroguieioye Gorod*sucne. xseaiiiu mem weie large tank anu cavairy kOrces. *

xne German positions were in a worn, -muss a stream, xne Russian ononsivu opcuuu Witn a teninc aruxtery uarrage and a mass air auac*.. xiuautiy moved xorvvard, crep., ctoso to in*. *ApiOurng sneiifi, and waited until the moment me jxuo*ian guns awnoueu t* tne aejjtu ox tne crorinan uexeuces. Anen mey rusneu tne German uenenes. auo xmssiau barrage nxpx ucskroyeu aii me in tne uerman. outer dexeuces. xhe Russmus xanneu south-west, west, u,na norm-west xrom me breakanrougu. xhe Germans auaudoneu artmery positions seven to eignt umto xrom tne xorwaru lines vrnen learned of the ureak-tnruugu, and mo xwussians, uy me suuuenness Oi theii attack anu the intensity ox their ►mmearuiuent, were ame to take tne fortified town of xrrogoreioye Gore uisnciie with small losses. The Germans, doing tueir utmost tu prevent tne widening oi the oreacn, munched several counter-attacks witn ranks, but within a lew days the Russians had covered 3U miles. - Rain enforced a pause, out tne xiusoiaus then went iorwaru with renewed vigour, drove southwaru, anu occupioiiunnaaovo, whicn is 18 miles north ot Gzhatsk, advanced eastwards and occupied Bubstav, and pressed on tv xkjev. The German news agency says the Russians in the Kaluga and Rjev areas have succeeded m making certain local progress but that the Germau forces are carrying out a syetemati'’ straightening of taeir front. A German military spokesman said that the Russians in the past two uays had been attacking on t..e Reniug.-u iront. ixeavy artiuery lire preceaeu an attack by strong tank form-tions mac were thrown aga.nst Germau positions on the Ai'eva itiver. r nialiy the gained a foothold On t. ? ior. ii a.ong tha river, the spokesman added, but the

original defence line had now been reestablished. Moscow radio announced to-day that the Russian Air Force in difficult weather on Wednesday! night bombed military and industrial objectives at Berlin, Danzig, Koenigsberg, .Stettin, Tilsit and other towns in Eastern, North-eastern and Central tvo:'n.*n\. s Nine large fires were started each in ’orlin and Danzig, and ten fires, and also explosions in Koenigsberg. Fires and explosions were observed in other target areas. All the raiders returned*