ONE OF GREATEST IN HISTORY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20837, 16 July 1942, Page 3

ONE OF GREATEST IN HISTORY

GERMANS SEEK ENCIRCLEMENT RESERVES STREAMING ACROSS THE DON DANGEROUS SITUATION DEVELOPING (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (Noon.) RUGBY, July 15. The bill lie of Voronezh is described in a Moscow newspaper as one of the greatest in history. Thousands of tanks, tens of thousands of troops, and hundreds of planes and field-guns were engaged day and night. Striking from the west the Germans trying to encircle the city have crossed the river both south and north of Voronezh. The Russians, however, rushed to these sectors, driving hack the enemy to the river in the south and holding them in the north. Five miles between the Don and the Voronezh Rivers lias become the scene of one of the bitterest battles the world lias ever seen. The Germans are meeting the Soviet counter-blows north-west of Voronezh by strengthening the anti-tank defences and converting tanks into pill-boxes. They are also stiffening their artillery and continuously attacking the Russians with dive-bombers.' They have lost many tanks in this sector trying to recapture lost ground. The Germans had to blow up an important bridge which they had clung to grimly for days. Much of their reinforcements had been brought over it. Nevertheless, most other sectors are being subjected to hard pressure by the Nazis and a most dangerous situation is reported to he developing. Enemy Troops Infiltrate Town With German reserves streaming across the River Don at various points, the situation at Voronezh has become more difficult, says the Izvestia. Enemy shock-troops have succeeded in infiltrating into the region of the town, where furious battles are going on. The main German armies from the south and north have approached closer to Voronezh in an attempt at encirclement. The Red Army, supported by the air force, is vigorously hitting hack and inflicting Iremendous losses. The Russian artillery is destroying pontoon bridges across the Don, on which large numbers of German tanks and guns and men have been lost. The Red Air Force is also dealing smashing blows at the Don crossings, in one day destroying 10 tanks and 70 lorries. The battlefield is littered with German dead and smashed tanks and guns. The smoke-clouded sky echoes from hundreds of battle planes. A Soviet night communique states that Soviet troops on Tuesday fought fierce battles against the German army group which broke through in the region of Voronezh. In the region south of Boguchar Russian troops were engaged in heavy fighting with advancing German tanks and motorised infantry. No important changes occurred on other sectors.