STILL FALLING BACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 5

STILL FALLING BACK

Russians in Caucasus STRONGER RESISTANCE ON OTHER FRONTS London, Aug. 1 0. The Russians are still falling back before slashing German blows in the Caucasian foothills between Armavir and the 1 erek River, which the Germans claim they reached. It is clear the Germans are determined to exert all pressure to cut off Grozny and then hope to complete the severance of the Russian armies and the air forces from the main oilfield by occupying Makhachkala on the Capsian Sea. The Russians have not yet announced the fall of Krasnodar or Maikop claimed by the Germans at the week-end. Their loss is generally expected. Ihe Germans have now added Pyatigorsk to the list of their Caucasian claims, adding that advanced units of the fast-moving army are already striking eastwards along the Terek River. News is brighter from the Russian front elsewhere, with stiff fighting reported from Kletskaya inside the Don elbow and also outside the Don elbow north-east of Kotelnokovo. The Stockholm correspondent of “The limes” reports that the Germans encountered determined resistance at many points in the Krasnodar and Armavir areas, but the Russians appear to have transferred their heavy armour to the Volga, maybe in the belief that it is unsuitable for mountain warfare. The present position on the Sea of Azov is not clear. Indications are that the Russians have fallen back to the Black Sea probably to Novorossiisk also around the mouth of the Kuban River. Reports from German sources suggest that the Germans may attempt a mainland movement from the east in order to capture a bridgehead near Kerch Straits, after which a fresh army from the Crimea could pour into the Caucasian struggle. The Russians are aware of this possibility and point out that the time most propitious for a Russian counter-offensive anywhere from Voronej to the Baltic is as soon as the German army from the Crimea is entangled in the Caucasus.

There are definite signs in the last 48 hours that Soviet resistance is strengthening on all vital sectors except Armavir, says Reuter’s Mos* cow correspondent.

The Maikop oilfields were set on fire by the Russians and are now an impenetrable inferno of flame, reports the "Daily Telegraph” correspondent. German bombers are attempting to blast out the fires by dropping demolition charges down the blazing wells. A Russian supplementary communique reports exceptionally stubborn fighting north-east of Kotelnokovo, where Russian troops occupied the railway station after it had changed hands several times. Fighting is also heavy in the Krasnodar region, where superior enemy forces compelled a Russian withdrawal to new positions. The enemy gained some ground in the Maikop area. A German attack in the Voronej area was repelled with heavy losses.

THE VORONEJ AREA

The Russians in the Voronej area gained some ground, but the fighting at the present is merely locally important. Operations in the Kotelnokovo region have not relaxed and fighting in the Kletskaya sector yesterday was the most violent yet. The Germans, ignoring losses, repeatedly hurled in reinforced tank units and infantry. The Russians hereabouts are only just hanging on. Berlin radio stated that big battles have been raging in the Rjev sector, north- of Moscow, since 30th July. The Russians day after day have been sending over .strong infantry and tank forces, supported by artillery, but all the attacks have been repulsed. Mr Negle.v Farson. in an article in the "Daily Mail.” points out that it is not necessary for Marshal von Bock to drive his forces across the great Caucasian mountains. He can cut off the Russians from this absolutely essential source of fuel oil firstly, by smashing through the remaining 40 to 50 miles from the Don bend to the Volga at Stalingrad: secondly, by striking swiftly to the Caspian Sea across the Caucasian neck. The German air bases at Makhacohkala could command the Caspian which here is only 170 miles wide and dive-bomb every vessel attempting to carry oil northwards for the Russians. The German shore batteries from Stalingrad could sink oil tankers and food barges trying to struggle up the Volga against the strong current on this thin stretch. —P.A. and 8.0. W.