STUBBORN FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1942, Page 3

STUBBORN FIGHTING

HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES IN SOME AREAS SUPPOSED GERMAN PLAN. THREAT TO THE NORTHERN CAUCASUS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.7 a.m.) RUGBY, July 26. The Russian midday comrpunique records fighting in the regions of Voronezh, Zymlyanskaya, Novo Cherkassk and Rostov. The Russians are engaged in defensive operations at Zymlyanskaya, which is the area of chief interest at the moment. At one point the enemy has succeeded in crossing the river. The Soviet Air Force attacked a river crossing and enemy troop concentrations and Soviet troops annihilated a unit which crossed the river. Another’ attack was repulsed on the same front and the enemy lost 600 killed. Stubborn fighting continued in the Voronezh region. West of the town Russian, troops advanced and took several hundred prisoners. On another sector of the Voronezh front the enemy, attempting to stem the Russian advance, launched a counter-attack with an infantry regiment just arrived from deep in the rear. They suffered heavy casualties. In the Rostov region great German tank columns are attempting to break the resistance of the Russian troops, who, fighting heroically, are inflicting enormous losses.

The direction of the German fighting is believed in London to suggest that the enemy plan is to strike southward at the Northern Caucasus. The Russians report that the fighting has a graver aspect, as the Germans are over the Don at two fortified positions. The Germans are trying to cross the Don at scores of places and have concentrated masses of aircraft which are steadily battering the left bank.