WRAPPED ABOUT BY INVADING FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1942, Page 3

WRAPPED ABOUT BY INVADING FORCES

Nazi Claims to Have Captured City Not Confirmed RUSSIANS RETAIN UPPER HAND IN VORONEZH AREA REPEATED ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS PETER OUT LONDON, July 24. From Russia there is no confirmation of the German claim to have captured Rostov, but there is said to be no doubt that the city is in great danger. The official German claim is that Axis forces have broken through the deep defences of the city and are fighting in the streets. The German radio went further and gave what it claimed to be a description of the capture of Rostov, which was attacked from the north, west and east. Bitter hand-to-hand fighting, it was stated, went on in the streets yesterday but resistance was overcome by the morning. There is little news of Axis operations at Novo Cherkassk, 20 miles north-east of Rostov, but it is clear that the Germans are attacking in great strength in this and a neighbouringlocality. A further Soviet withdrawal is reported in the Novo Cherkassk area in the face of overwhelming enemy superiority. The Germans are exerting great pressure in an effort to break through and to cross the Don. The Russians are still fightingback on the north bank of the river. The battle for Voronezh is still developing favourably to the Russians, with a stiffening of German resistance. The Russians are fighting at a number of points on the west bank and on the east bank continue to force the Germans back. German infantry have suffered heavy casualties in the latest fighting. North-west of Voronezh the enemy threw in tanks in repeated counter-attacks, which failed to loosen the Russian hold on territory recently won. When the counter-attacks petered out, the Russians resumed their oWn push. Heavy fighting is reported south of Voronezh, especially where Russian troops crossed to the western bank.