STILL IN PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1942, Page 4

STILL IN PROGRESS

O. FIERCE BATTLE FOR ROSTOV ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN REPORTS. DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY TANKS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 24. The capture of Rostov is still claimed by the Germans and denied by the Russians. A supplement to a Soviet communique states that fierce battles are in progress as German tank forces try to break into Rostov. Russian guns and the anti-tank barrage repelled six enemy attacks, destroying 38 tanks. The Germans are throwing more tanks into the battle. NAZI CLAIM “TOWN TAKEN BY STORM.” (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. A special German High Command announcement says: “Storm Troops and Slovak units, magnificently supported by the air forces, have broken through the strongly-fortified and deeply echeloned defensive positions around Rostov, along the entire front, and have taken the town by storm, after hard fighting. Mopping up in the town is now in progress.” ENEMY AT GATES AND FATHERLAND IN DANGER. IMPASSIONED RADIO APPEAL. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. The Russians have not admitted that Rostov has fallen. A Moscow message in the afternoon stated: “The threat to Rostov is increasing. The enemy is at its gates, hurling forces against the city from west, north and east.” The Moscow radio broadcast an impassioned appeal to the nation, declaring: “Our Fatherland is in danger and the enemy has made a deeper penetration into our country. We call on all patriots to stop the enemy.” The Germans are stiffening their resistance in the Voronezh area. They began a tank attack on Wednesday, north-west from Voronezh, in an -attempt to regain lost territory, but failed. Russian tanks on Thursday attacked the German lines on the west bank of the Don. Russian infantry attacked simultaneously and the situation is developing favourably. Russian tanks recaptured a vital railway station west of Voronezh. The Germans counter-attacked and lost several thousand killed. VICHY ASSERTION GERMAN ADVANCE GUARDS IN CAUCASUS. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON. July 24. The Vichy radio declared that the offensive base of the German thrust against the Caucasus is a bridgehead near Konstantinovsk, which the Germans have enlarged by many other bridgeheads . German advance guards are already fighting on Caucasian soil.