SOVIET COUNTERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20837, 16 July 1942, Page 4

SOVIET COUNTERS

VORONEZH FRONT FIGHTING IN CITY NAZI LOSSES IN NORTH (Bv Tclfißmph—Press Assn.—Copyi-iuht.) (2 p.m.) LONDON. July 15. The Russian counter-blows on the Voronezh front have been intensified in the past two days. A Moscow message says that the enemy at some points has been forced to dig in and fortify his lines. The Russians continue to inflict fearful losses on the Voronezh front. The Pravda says that the enemy divisions are simply withering awa.v. A correspondent gives an example General Schlucner’s Third Motorised Division, which crossed the Don River, was obliged to withdraw alter one dav’s lighting. 11 was replaced by the 108th Division, which already had suffered huge losses. Tire northern and southern outskirts of Voronezh citv are at present the scenes of furious fighting. Unconfirmed reports from Stockholm say that General von Kleist’s armoured forces advancing towards Rostov reached Rovenki. on the Taganrog Gulf. His also reported that fighting is proceeding in the streets cf Voroshilovgrad. Moscow reports that a fierce Russian surprise attack resulted in the capture of an important German stronghold and considerable booty on the Volkhov front. German counterattacks failed to regain the stronghold. The Russians are steadily improving their position between Lake Ilmen and Leningrad. The Russians repulsed large German units who were attempting to penetrate the Russian lines in the Lake Ilmen area. The Germans here in .the past 10 days have lost several thousand killed or: wounded. The Izvestia says that a Russian unit on the Kalinin front annihilated 2000 Germans and destroyed 54 tanks. The Moscow radio announced that a Russian air force unit dropped hundreds of bombs on an unnamed enemy post in which five ships were destroyed, and a refuelling ship and docks blown up.