DON RIVER BATTLES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23718, 17 August 1942, Page 5

DON RIVER BATTLES

German Drive To South

THREAT TO LOWER VOLGA (Received August 16, 11.10 p.m.) (N.Z.P.A.) LONDON. August 16. There is no fresh news of a German thrust south of Kotelnikov, which constitutes a threat to the lower Volga and Astrakhan The latest Russian communique says that the Russian forces defending Stalingrad fought the enemy in the regions of Kletskaya and Kotelnikov. It is reported that following a German advance north-east of Kotelnikov the Russians counterattacked and captured two heights. The Germans tried vainly to dislodge them. The Germans claim to have captured some villages 18U miles west of Astrakhan, and say their troops are pressing east. These claims are not supported so far and the Russian communique mentions no new battle zones. The Moscow radio says the Germans have regrouped their forces and resumed heavy attacks north-eastwards of Kotelnikov. German infantry,

strongly supported by tanks and aeroplanes, are thrusting north-eastwards, disregarding all losses. Fresh German divisions are constantly being thrown into the battles. Hundreds of German dead and dozens of wrecked vehicles are strewn across the fields. The Moscow correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says the Russians defending the western bank of the Don are in a critical position after a German break-through south of Kletskaya. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the latest report from the Don elbow show that the Russians have been pushed back in some sectors close to the west bank of the river, where they are fortifying new lines and counterattacking. They have improved their positions. German Tank Losses

According to a front-line dispatch to “Red Star.” the German offensive against Stalingrad from Kotelnikov has been arrested, but the newspaper warns that this is only a lull before a fresh storm. German losses, especially in tanks, have forced them on to the defensive in certain sectors, where they are digging in, erecting barbed wire entanglements, and hurriedly moving up reserves. The destruction of about 51 German bombers and fighters during one raid on an enemy aerodrome in the Kletskaya area is announced by the Moscow radio. “Curing the last two days the enemy again attempted to drive wedges into our defence positions and reach- the Don," said the announcer. “These enemy operations were supported by large Luftwaffe forces, which came from two large frontline aerodromes. Our aeroplanes had the task of destroying these two aerodromes, “At dawn a large group of Soviet Stormoviks attacked one enemy aerodrome on which there were about 120 German aeroplanes. The Germans were just preparing for a new action, but our aeroplanes took them by surprise. During the first dive attack many bombs were dropped and our aeroplanes machine-gunned the enemy aerodrome. Many fires broke out. Our aeroplanes repeated the attack, but this time enemy anti-aircraft batteries opened a terrific fire. Soviet fighter aeroplanes escorting the Stormoviks attacked the enemy batteries, silencing several units and killing crews by machine-gun fire. The second attack was as successful as the first. “According to preliminary figures about 40 German bombers and fighter aeroplanes were destroyed or set on fire. A further 11 were shot down in aerial combat.” Earlier it was reported that the Germans apparently hoped to force Stalingrad’s approaches with a sustained four-pronged drive. Three prongs are within the Don elbow and the fourth is from the hills of the Volga Valley south of the city. This fourth line of attack north of Kotelnikov developed dangerously for the Russians when a strong force of enemy tanks, well supported by infantry and aeroplanes, broke through and began to fan out along the Don. It was during the stemming of German advances in this sector that the Russians destroyed hundreds of tanks. The Russians admitted on Friday that counter-attacks had only oartially retrieved the situation. German penetration necessitated some withdrawals for straightening the defence line, but some enemy units were scattered by a swift wheeling movement which brought the German rear under Russian fire.

GERMANY SETTLED DOWN TO WAR

S.S. NEWSPAPER CLAIM STOCKHOLM, August 14.

The German S.S. newspaper “Schwarze Korps" states: “The nay Petain laid down arms we believed we were close to victory. The optimists hoped that England would make a settlement on the basis of the world being big enough for two great Germanic nations. “The invasion which has not taken place has strengthened British morale and burdened German morale. We, torday are thoroughly settled down to thb war and peace in the cupboard is well provided with moth balls. Germany in this war, contrary to the last, is gaining strength. We do not need to be too hasty. We have time."

TRANSPORT PLANES

DISCUSSION IN U.S.

(Received August 16, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 15,

At'least five years would be required to produce the 200-ton air transports advocated by Mr Henry Kaiser, said Mr J. R. Kindelberger, president of the North American Aircraft Corporation. He added that Mr Kaiser’s plans for mass production of a 70-ton flying-boat were also impracticable. Mr Kindelberger urged the maximum production of proven 32-ton transports such as the Douglas C 54,