TIMOSHENKO'S CHOICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 2

TIMOSHENKO'S CHOICE

(Rec. 1.50 p.m.) London. Aug. 11. The battle for the approaches to Stalingrad is more violent north-east of Kotelnokovo. All dispatches from Moscow and Stockholm emphasise the gravity of the position and underline the very serious possibilities of German success hereabouts. The Germans need Stalingrad in order to straddle the Volga effectively, cleave Russian communications, and cut off the northern armoured forces and planes from Caucasian oil. Any German success before Stalingrad will menace Marshal Timoshenko, whose army, while comparatively intact, constantly threatens the German grip in territories at present occupied. The Germans are meanwhile fanning out eastwards from Armavir and are also closing in on the NovorossiskTuapse sector of the Kuban country. The Russians here are fighting defensive battles against thousands of German motor cyclists armed to the teeth, racing in hoping to confuse the withdrawal. The military situation in the western Kuban sector is clearly irretrievable. The Russians are fighting back mainly for time to demolish and evacuate. The Russians in the sector eastwards of Armavir have slowed up the Germans but huge columns of armoured forces are still advancing towards the Caspian along the Caucasus foothills. These facts are disheartening but not disastrous, whereas if the Germans are not stopped before Stalingrad they could weaken the entire Russian resistance.

FIGHTING INSIDE DON BEND

A Soviet communique reports a continuation of heavy fighting inside the bend of the Don about Kletskaya and south of the Don elbow where the Germans are attempting to advance on Stalingrad from the south-west. In the Caucasus severe enemy pressure on the oil centres in the north-eastern corner is again shown. Cherkesk, mentioned for the first time, is about 50 miles east of Armavir and south of the Rostov-Baku railway. The communique states: “On 11th August our troops waged fierce fighting in the regions of Kletskaya north-east of Kotelnokovo and in the regions of Cherkesk. Maikop and Krasnodar. There are no important changes on other sectors of the front.” A supplementary communique refers, to the highly effective work by the Soviet Air Force. The enemy around Kletskaya again suffered heavy losses but continued to bring up fresh reserves. All types of weapons are said to be in use in fighting to the northeast of Kotelnokovo. Reference is also made to a large tank battle near a locality occupied by the Russians on the previous day. This has forced the enemy on to the defensive. In the region of Krasnodar Russian troops are said to have taken up new positions following an enemy break-through.

FURTHER ADVANCE CLAIMED

APPROACH TO BLACK SEA PORTS (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) London, Aug. 11. Vichy radio declared that the spearhead of the German column from Krasnodar is now 40 to 50 miles from Novorossiisk and advanced units from another column from Maikop 30 miles from Tuapse. German forces which occupied Pyatigorsk passed Prokhladna.va, where they split One group is now in the Mosdok region and the other near the industrial centre of Ordzhonoidze, 50 miles south-west of Grozny. A German communique claims that Russians in the Maikop area have been thrown back on several sectors in the mountains, and the Russian army west of Kalach has been driven together on a narrow base and faces annihilation. The communique reports heavy defensive fighting in the Rjev area, where the Russians yesterday attacked with fresh reinforcements.—P.A.

CLAIM BY GERMANS

ADVANCED UNITS IN GEORGIYEVSK (Rec 12.45 p.m.) London. Aug. 11 Berlin radio claims that German advanced units entered Georgi yevsk.—P.A.

To Defend the Volga STALINGRAD THE KEYTOWN (Rec. 1.30 p.m.) London, Aug. 11. Stalingrad, Astrakan and Baku are now regarded as keypoints for the Russians to hold if Russia is going to remain an effective factor in the war. It is now apparent that General 1 imoshenko s north Caucasian forces were weaker than expected for which reason when the Germans exploited successful surprise tactics Marshal I imoshenko had to choose between either defending the north Caucasus and concentrating everything possible for the defence of the Volga. He managed by successful withdrawals to keep the largest proportion of his armies intact and his decision to protect the Volga is regarded in London as being undoubtedly sound. The lower Volga is one of the most important Russian supply routes and the sole remaining route by which oil from Baku can be transported in considerable quantities to the interior. If the Russians can hold Stalingrad, Astrakan and Baku then the allimportant flow of oil can be maintained. Stalingrad is the keytown of the whole Volga region, dominating Russia’s greatest waterway which even in peacetime is used to carry no less than 30,000,000 tons of freight annually. It has been one of the most vital reception areas for factories evacuated from the west last year. It is also a great munition dump for the whole of the southern front.