CAUCASUS DRIVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24369, 3 September 1942, Page 3

CAUCASUS DRIVES

ENEMY BID FOR PORTS GROZNI THRUST HELD UP RUSSIAN STAND AT RIVER {End. 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2 The Black Sea ports of Novorossisk and Tuapse are now threatened by a double enemy drive. One thrust is moving down the coast and another is advancing over the western spur of the Caucasus Mountains south of Krasnodar. The Germans claim to have captured the port of Anapa, 40 miles north-west of XovorossisL h is also claimed by the Germans that their forces south of Krasnodar have driven the Soviet troops hack into the mountains. The Moscow radio says

tee Russians, delivering heavy counterclows south, of Krasnodar, dispersed snd wiped out rive infantry battalions and recaptured several commanding heights. fhe German drive on the Grozni oilis htiil being held on the Terek "iter at Mozdok. Soviet units have destroyed 12 pontoon bridges which tenaan sappers had thro* n across the. r.rer. fighting continues in the vicinity ot west of Mozdok. Beater's Moscow correspondent says tise Bed Army has started a countercfisnsive in the Prokhladnaya region the object or restoring the i-ius—-positions. The Russians have broken into Prokiiladnaya itself and •re steadily routing the enernv from every house. . The Black Sea Fleet is valiantly aid-; the Red Army, J; ha«, carried out; ran alter raid en enemy-held ports and j plashed German landing parties at-j «ffiptir.g to cut in behind the Russian j torces barring, the way to Tuapse and j r OT orossisk. By night it raided a port E winch the Germans had accumulated u 1 ? et apparently intended for Euiag troops in the northern Catic^ a -- Planes dropped dares. alter ,the Russian warships launched ooißDardment, sank a number of ves--B'l destroyed a big oil dump. -A Russian flotilla is engaging enemy >ps which are appearing in increases numbers in the >ea of A~ov. Fightraging for the eastern shores, tl, i marines and warships helping .and forces, | STRUGGLE for rjev FIGHTING AT LENINGRAD 7 lf P-m.) LONDON. Sept. 2 of pf now hold almost half \ : j. and have taken several more j says the Moscow correspondent) r«w j ll J". Express. Their progress is j i'i at 3° painful. After the Russians] two points, the Germans Uct • n °, tpwer than 27 counter-at--*s - but ail were repulsed with heavv j U T . cscow radio states that Russian | the Briansk front attacked | go j*nnan aerodromes on which about j *»2 atl - es * ere concentrated. About 45 j I|fi» Ce - s troypd. Four Messprschmitt 1 *~g® * ere ,snot dc'Tn in combat. -oca! fighting is reported in . limen and Leningrad areas.