GERMANS ATTACKING IN TREMENDOUS FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1942, Page 3

GERMANS ATTACKING IN TREMENDOUS FORCE

Enemy Claims To Have Entered North Caucasus SOME WITHDRAWALS ADMITTED BY RUSSIANS AMERICAN GENERAL REACHES MOSCOW BY AIR LONDON, August 5. In South Russia, the Germans are attacking in tremendous force everywhere south of the Don, but in the elbow of the river opposite Stalingrad they are being strongly held. A Moscow communique admits two further withdrawals in the area half-way between Rostov and Stalingrad. Further south, on the Stalingrad-Black Sea railway, enemy tanks and mechanised units have broken through the Russian defences and under the orders of the Soviet Command, Russian troops have withdrawn to a new line. The position on the Russian left is a little better. At a point 50 miles south of Rostov an enemy attack with superior forces was repulsed. The Germans are advancing into the Trans-Caucasus area and claim to have reached the important town of Kropotkin, where there are oil refineries. The Germans say they have reached the Kuban River on a front of 60 miles. They claim to be approaching the railway junction of Armavira, in the foothills of the Caucasus. There is no confirmation of these claims from Moscow. The country in this area is ideal for the landing of enemy airborne tanks and for large-scale landings of parachute troops. The “Red Star” points out the danger of such landings of midget tanks, and the need for constant vigilance. An American general has flown from Washington to Moscow with a message to M. Stalin. He flew in a giant American bomber, arriving at Moscow after a ten-day journey. He said he had come to Moscow to do all he could to make aid for Russia more effective,