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Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1942, Page 4

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; STRUCK BY RUSSIANS WEST OF STALINGRAD VON BOCK SAID TO BE FAILING. IN ATTEMPT TO HALT SOVIET FORCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. Marshal Timoshenko’s main force, after pusing back the Italians in the Kletskaya region, crossed by night to the west bank of the Don. The Russians have recaptured five villages in the Kletskaya area. Von Bock is rushing troops from neighbouring sectors in an attempt to hold the Russians, but is reported to be failing. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Red Army has started a counteroffensive in the Prokhlatnaya region, with the object of restoring the Russian positions. The Russians have broken into Prokhlatnaya itself and are steadily routing the enemy from every house. The Russians are forging ahead step by step on the central front. German prisoners state that the German losses are tremendous. Thirteen hundred were killed in one action alone. Hand-to-hand fighting has often occurred in counter-attacks, all of which resulted in Russian successes. The Moscow radio stated that Russian planes on the Bryansk front attacked two German aerodromes on which about 60 German planes were concentrated. About 45 were destroyed. Four Messerschmitt ’ 118 s were shot down in combat. The German High Command claims that Kalach has been captured. A German communique states that a further advance has been made towards Stalingrad. Germans and Rumanians south of the lower Kuban River, it adds, overcame stubborn resistance and broke through along the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Rumanians took.the town and harbour of Anapa. • FIERCE FIGHTING \ NORTH-WEST & SOUTH-WEST OF STALINGRAD. REPORTED BY SOVIET. LONDON, September 1. A Soviet communique reports, fierce fighting north-west and south-west of Stalingrad. In one sector south-west of the city the Germans massed large numbers of tanks and succeeded in driving a wedge into the Russian defences. In another sector on the same front the Red Army retreated to new positions. Using tremendous pressure, the enemy south of Krasnodar occupied several positions, which the Russians retook in a counter-attack. In another sector on this front, the' German pressure was so heavy that the Russians retired to new positions. BLACK SEA FLEET’ VALIANTLY ASSISTING LAND FORCES. SMASHING UP NAZITLANDING PARTIES. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) MOSCOW, September 1. The Black Sea Fleet, without loss, raided by night a port in which the Germans had accumulated a small fleet, apparently intended to be used for a landing in the Northern Caucasus. Planes dropped flares, after which the Russian warships launched a bombardment, sank a number of vessels and destroyed a big oil dump. The Black Sea Fleet is still a fighting force, valiantly aiding the Red Army in the Caucasus and has carried out raid after raid on enemy-held ports. The fleet’s guns are smashing up German landing parties attempting to cut in behind the Russian forces' barring the way to Tuapse and Novorossisk. ‘ SECOND FRONT URGED BY SOVIET PAPERS, IMPORTANCE OF UPSETTING HITLER'S PLANS. (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. The “Pravda,” in an article on the third anniversary of the outbreak of war, urges the immediate opening of a second front by the United Nations. “Hitler,” it says, “has hurled all his reserves into battle in Russia and has laid bare the shores of the Atlantic. It is most important that his plans should be upset. Now the Russian, as well as the British and American peoples, know this. They know how important it is to bring greater activity into the struggle against the common enemy.” The “Izvestia” says: “The last hope of the German imperialists is that they may outpace the anti-Hitler Coalition and achieve decisive success before all the potential resources of the coalition can be brought into play, and before Allied Army activity supports the struggle of the Soviet people. This scheme must and will be, thwarted.” Rosenberg, in an article in the “Voelkischer Beobachter” advised the Germans that they must get used to the idea of war for another thirty years.