MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIANS IN DON BEND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 3

MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIANS IN DON BEND

Enemy Eastward Drive Checked CROSSINGS OF KUBAN RIVER FORCED BY GERMANS THREAT TO BLACK SEA PORTS INTENSIFIED LONDON, August 18. The Don Bend is still the scene of fierce fighting, as German tanks, motorised infantry and motorised artillery launch attack after attack in an attempt to drive across the river to Stalingrad, 40 miles away. Since he drove a wedge into the Russian defences, the enemy has redoubled his efforts to reach the river and is bringing up fresh reserves of men and tanks. Reports from Moscow state "that the Germans have succeeded in reaching the western bank of the Don at some points, but that a fierce Russian artillery barrage has prevented enemy sappers from throwingbridges across the river. The Germans are making an all-out effort to establish themselves on the western bank in order to launch an attack across the river. All their efforts have been frustrated and at no point has the enemy been given an opportunity to consolidate his gains. Despite enemy claims to have occupied the entire Don Bend, organised fighting is still going on west of the river. The enemy drive on Stalingrad from the south-west has been checked by Soviet counter-attacks. In the Kotelnikovo area the Russian forces have improved their positions everywhere. The Germans have succeeded in crossing the Kuban River and have increased their threat to the Black Sea port of Novorossisk. At the other end of the Caucasus battlefront, fierce fighting is still going on at Mineralnye Vody. Heavy enemy attacks have been repelled there in the past 12 hours. Throughout the Caucasus the Russians are fighting difficult defensive battles against greatly superior forces. There is no sign that the enemy advance has yet been halted.