BATTLES RAGING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24346, 7 August 1942, Page 3

BATTLES RAGING

VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS NAZIS USE PARATROOPS STRUGGLE AT RIVER (Kecd. 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 6 Fighting of unparalleled violence is raging by day and night on the Russian southern front. German parachutists are supporting the motorised forces in their attacks in the Belaya Glina area, south-west of Salsk, where the Germans all night hurled in mixed forces, which broke through at several points. The Russians are suffering comparatively small losses from dive-bomb-ing because of their excellent camouflage. Paratroop operations so far have been limited, but some commentators forecast their more widespread employment, particularly against important strategic points. So far they have been landing in groups of 100 to 150, sometimes with light tanks, mortars and machine-guns, and taking up positions near the railway stations, villages and highways. Heavy German Losses The Germans have suffered particularly heavy casualties in their advance on the coast of the Sea of Azov, where they have been subjected to constant harassing from Russian aircraft and marines landed in their rear, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. Heavy fighting continues on the northern outskirts of Yekaterinovsk. 25 miles south-east of Kushchevka, where the enemy is attempting to force the river in rubber boats, and even by swimming, through a hail of fire. Cossacks in the Kushchevka region have smashed back General Konrad's panzers and stopped his motorised forces in their tracks with a terrific concentration of artillery and anti-tank fire. The Russians have checked every German attempt to break through to Tikhoretska. The most important German success is in the Belaya Glina area, where the enemv is attacking in continuous waves of 50"to 60 tanks. Strong Air Support Each enemy tank column has the support of great numbers of lorried infantry and strong air coverage. Tanks are rarely mentioned in the Russian reports, and the main brunt of the resistance is falling on infantry and artillery. It is thus all the more remarkable that the defenders have been so successful in the Kushchevka sector. A German communique states that German and Rumanian divisions are drawing near the Yeisk-Tikhoretsk railway on a broad front. It adds: "We stormed and occupied the important railway junction of Kavkaskaya and reached the Kuban River on a 60-mile front. North of Armavir we established on the west bank of the Kuban River." The Berlin radio claims that German forces have penetrated Yekaterinovsk after swimming the Yeya Hirer. PANZER GENERAL KILLED f (Eecd. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 0 Russian airmen are giving no rest to the German columns which have crashed through to the Kuban River, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily telegraph. Their toll includes MajorGeneral Julius von Bernuth, chief of staff of the entire Panzer Army Corps, TJ'ho was killed when his plane was shot down. RUSSIA AND POLAND (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 5 On the occasion of the first anniversary of the signing of the Polish-Soviet agreement, General Sikorski, Polish •Prime Minister, and M. Stalin have exchanged telegrams, says the British official wireless. Both expressed the conviction that their friendly relations would continue in the future and that their combined effort would help to or mg the war to a victorious conclusion. NAZIS OVER ICELAND Single German bombers aro frequently visiting Iceland to watch for east-bound convovs and take weather observations. A German bomber flew °*e r the west of Iceland on August I - ui mac !) ! « e -guimed an unoccupied "ghthouse. Two hostile planes crossed *ae south and south-oast coasts on August 6.