VERY GRAVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1942, Page 3

VERY GRAVE

POSITION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS

BUT SIGNS OF ATTEMPT TO END RETREAT.

SBATTLES COSTLY TO BOTH

SIDES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 12. All reports indicate that Marshal Timoshenko has succeeded in beating off the heaviest German thrusts so far made against Stalingrad.

In the North Caucasus, though the situation could scarcely be more grave, the Germans are now approaching territory that is much more favourable to the defenders, and the 17th Army is paying an even higher price for the advances it is still undoubtedly making in most sectors. However, the German advance has not only slowed down but in some points the enemy have been forced back slightly, and the Russians are at last possibly attempting to bring the general rapid retreat to an end.

A'Russian communique says that the Red Army is holding fierce attacks at Kletskaya and north-east of Kotelnikovo, and is fighting defensively in the Caucasian sectors in face of great pressure. There is no diminution in the intensity of the fighting in the Krasnodar and Maikop regions, where the Russians are holding out desperately under a terrific German armoured onslaught. The unending battles here are costly to both sides, but the German reinforcements are rolling forward in such strength that it seems the Russians must again be compelled to fall RUINS LEFT TO ENEMY. Moscow reports that the Russian! falling back along the Kuban Valley

are destroying everything that is useful to the enemy, leaving every town and village in ruins. The Russians at Voronezh have been steadily extending their large befi west of the Don River to the north and south, and increased German and Rumanian resistance supported by large reinforcements of tanks has not prevented further Russian progress. The Russians have forced three more crossings of the Don River south of Voronezh, and the enemy’s casualties must be having an appreciable effect on his strength in the neighbouring sectors. The Hungarians are‘reported to be losing particularly heavily.