EXTENDING THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1942, Page 4

EXTE NDING THREAT

ON RUSSIAN SOUTHERN FRONT SOVIET LOCAL SUCCESS l IN THE VORONEZH AREA. DEEP DRIVE INTO ENEMY FLANK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.rn.) LONDON, July 14. Describing the powerful Russian counter-attack in the Voronezh area, in which Russian tanks, cavalry and infantry crashed into the German left flank and compelled the enemy to retreat to the south, the “Red Star” says the counterattack began three days ago, the Russians forcing battle on the enemy on a broad front west of the Don. Repeated waves of Russian tanks hurled themselves against the Germans’ formidable tank barriers. Tanks, with cavalry and infantry, deeply penetrated the German flank defences. At least ninety German tanks were destroyed and 2,000 Germans and Hungarians were killed. The Russians retain the initiative. Another Moscow message says the threat to Voronezh grows hourly. Large German tank and. motorised in- • fantry forces are now smashing their way into the town, under cover of smoke-screens. In one sector of the line the Germans are using two tank divisions and two infantry divisions. They are also using flame-throwers in efforts to dislodge the defenders from trenches. Air battles rage constantly. Russiafi bombers are keeping up their pounding of the Don crossings, which the Russian artillety is still shelling. They are taking a heavy toll. The Moscow radio announced that German troops had passed Millerovo. The Vichy radio declared that von Bock has begun a Sea of A:!jov offensive, extending over a 100 mile front, between Artemovsk and Taganrog. A message from Berlin to Stockholm says von Bock’s thrust towards Stalingrad is now beyond Zazansk, eastward of Boguchar, and has reached the outskirts of Mogulinskaya. The Germans believe they have sufficient material east of the Don to cut the StalingradMoscow Railway, running 45 miles east of Voronezh. A German communique states: “Our offensive on the Russian southern front has extended southward. We have penetrated stubbornly-defended enemy positions. Our mobile forces have deeply penetrated the Russian lines and dispersed retreating columns.” The Rome radio declared that 34ton Russian tanks, equipped with flame-throwers, are in action on the Orel front'.