HISTORY MADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1942, Page 4

HISTORY MADE

IN BRITISH PREMIER’S VISIT TO MOSCOW ! RUSSIANS SAID TO BE HAPPY OVER MEETING. HOPES OF TURNING POINT IN WAR. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY. August 17. \ Mr Churchill’s visit to Moscow is the first occasion in history on which a British Premier has visited the Russian capital. The conferences which took place are described as epoch-making and as marking a turning point in the war. A Moscow correspondent says it is understood that Mr Churchill stayed at a house in the country, where he rested for brief periods after long hours at the Kremlin. It is added that Mr Churchill worked at high pressure throughout his stay, not permitting even the famed Russian Ballet to take him away from his work. Mr Churchill was in terrific form, full of fight and good health. His spirits were at their highest. M. Stalin was calm and confident and looked very well. In British circles in Moscow,, the correspondent says, the impression is that the Russians are very happy over the meeting, although there was little time for celebrations. Mr Churchill’s party was composed of twenty, six of whom were Americans. A dinner at the Kremlin on Saturday evening in honour of Mr Churchill, lasted for over four hours. It was attended by numerous Soviet generals, many of whom were strikingly young and energetic men, and also by ihc staffs of both Embassies, Allied representatives and generals. The atmosphere was described as “full of fun.” It was a very jocular party, with M. Stalin giving a number of toasts, speaking with sparkling humour and thoroughly enjoying his own jokes.

FIERCE BATTLES RAGING IN VORONEZH AREA. MASS AIR RAIDS ON BLACK SEA PORTS. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 17. The Germans are incessantly attacking in the Voronezh area and street fighting continues in a village the Germans entered yesterday. Fierce battles are raging in one district near Voronezh city, with the Germans hurling in tanks and infantry, supported by artillery, mortars and planes. The Russians have repelled these forces. The newspaper “Red Fleet” reports that a considerable portion of the Luftwaffe is now engaged in mass raids on Novorossisk, Anapa and Tuapse. The Vichy radio declared that fast German motorised units have encircled the Grozny oilfields and captured Gudermes.

GERMAN CLAIMS CAPTURE OF WHOLE DON BEND. HEAVY DEFENSIVE FIGHTING IN NORTH. (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 17. A German communique states: “South of the lower Kuban and in the North-West Caucasus, Axis forces are advancing in a further successful offensive. The Russians were finally defeated everywhere in the north-east loop of the Don bend and. the Don everywhere was reached. The entire Don bend is now firmly in German hands. Troops of all arms are engaged in heavy defensive fighting east of Viazma and Rzhev, where numerous Russian attacks failed.”