HEAVY PRESSURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 4

HEAVY PRESSURE

MAINTAINED BY GERMANS AT MAJOR POINTS IN SOUTH RUSSIA. IN SPITE OF HEAVY LOSSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. The Germans are keeping up their pressure on all major fronts in Russia. The Red Army has not succeeded in eliminating 'the wedge driven into its Kletskaya defences. It is inflicting here, as scuth-west of Stalingrad and cn the Caucasian fronts, heavy losses, but von Bock is still apparently able to put: in another man or another tank or gun as each is struck down. The battle is bitter and unrelaxing. Bombers and fighters are operating from bases close behind the battle lines, mercilessly pounding the ground forces and carrying death and destruction far to the rear, along lines of reinforcement and supply. Murderous fighting and raiding are in progress day and night on all the Caucasian fronts, especially at Mineralniye Vody, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The Germans are continuing to advance in some areas. The Russians are trying fully to exploit the terrain in the Mineralniye Vody area and take every opportunity to halt, or at least slow up, the German advance. The Germans are increasing their pressure on the south bank of the Kuban River, which they have crossed in force in the region of Krasnodar. The Russians are counter-attacking to. frustrate attempts to overwhelm the whole* Russian position. The “Red Star” reports that as a result of recent reverses north-east of Kotelnikovo the Germans have withdrawn several miles and are entrenching themselves and awaiting reinforcements. Russian paratroops landed in the rear of the Germans in the Kletskaya area and destroyed two infantry battalions. A German communique says: The Germans and their allies are continuing to attack in the Caucasus successfully, in face of stubborn resistance.” The Vichy radio reported that the German thrust towards Astrakhan has passed Sangyr and that the Germans have reached Petropavlosk, ten miles west of Grozny.