IN LOWER DON REGION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1942, Page 3

IN LOWER DON REGION

~ i Russians Falling Back But Fighting Hard ENEMY IN SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN VORONEZH AREA DRIVEN BACK ACROSS RIVER AT SOME POINTS LONDON, July 22. The Germans, in their drive towards Stalingrad, states the “Red Star,’’ have approached the boundary of Stalingrad province. Stalingrad itself lies 80 miles east of the provincial boundary line. The threat to Rostov has also grown. Agency messages from Moscow state that the Axis forces massed in the south have been further increased. The enemy advance continues. The Russians are still fighting with great determination as they fall back German planes, it is stated, played a part in establishing bridgeheads across the Lower Don, but there is no confirmation of reports that the Germans have crossed the river. On some parts of the Voronezh front the Germans are in difficulties and are having a bad time. The Russians command a number of important bridgeheads across the Don. The Germans are trying to stop the rot by bringing up reinforcements. North-west of Voronezh, where the Russians cut off large enemy forces from the river, the Soviet troops are still attacking. In another area on the Voronezh front the Russians have restored the situation after many days of hard fighting. Considerable enemy forces have been driven back to the western bank of the Don. Russian planes attacked Koenigsberg again on Monday night. Military and industrial targets were bombed.