The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-23
Flying Fortresses In
 Last Stand Of Russia
(Continued from Page D

Moscow, July g -(UP)- Red army artillery and the Red air force, reinforced by American-made flying fortresses, slowed the Axis onslaught on the lower Don river front today in heavy battles de- lending Rostov and the road to Stalingrad on the Volga.
 Warned that "our troops can and must" halt the enemy offensive against the Caucasus, the Russian forces appeared to be making their main stand in new and more favor able positions, although it seemed that the position of half-encircled Rostov might become untenable.
 Heavy fighting against reinforced German tank columns was reported in the areas of Rostov, Novocher- kassk, 32 miles northeast, and Tsimlyanskaya, which lies east ward on the Don about 115 miles from Stalingrad. On the front southeast of Boguchar, the enemy was reported pushing into Stalin- grad district but exact positions were not given.
 A hurricane of Russian artillery fire and persistent low-altitude aU- tacks by Soviet Stormovik assault planes were breaking up enemy columns and concentrations. front line dispatches said, in addition to big casualties inflicted by the Rus sians in land fighting in the RoS- tov area.
 All Soviet operations north of the Don, however, were described as defensive fighting, except in the Voronezh sector where the Russians took another town, reported about 5000 enemy casualties and 30 tanks destroyed in continuing counter attacks that pushed the Germans back and into the Don river at some points.
 Fierce Tank Battles
 Rcd Star reported that fierce tank battles took place northwest of Voronezh when the Germans at tempted a counter attack along a water barrier, while German di- vision was routed south of the city.
 A new Russian surprise attack on the Icningrad sector also was reported. The Russians pierced the German lines in three places and captured an important place, re- pulsing an enemy counter-thrust and killing some 2,000 Germans.
 Dispatches continued, however, to emphasize the German drive on the lower Don river, reporting that the enemy had rushed up large reserves, including artillery, and was re- grouping tank forces to renew the drive against Rostov and Stalin- grad.
 The Russians had been forced into new retirements after their biggest setback of the campaign and the Germans were pressing fcrward in hope of a decisive break-through when the planes went into action.
 The Russians were reported re- sisting stubbornly in their new po- SitionS.
 Having occupied new and more favorable lines our troops can and must hold the enemy and inflict cruel losses on him." Red Star said in an exhortation to the army to stand fast against the German ar mored and infantry masses, backed by flame throwers and big guns.
 After two days of one of the most ferocious battles of the war, the Germans thrust strong spearhead prongs to Novocherkassk, 32 miles northeast of Rostov, and Tsimlyans- kassk, 115 miles southeast of Stalin- grad and 100 miles east of Novo- Cherkassk.
 Take New Positions
 The Russians withdrew to new positions after they and the Ger mans had lost heavily in casualties in battle in which both sides threw everything they had.
 The noon communiQue reported a grand scale battle in which the Russians fought stoutly, hurling back repeated German attacks and wearing down the enemy forces by inflicting heavy losses.
 At Voronezh, the communique said, the Russians kept pushing the Germans back toward the Don river, and supported by powerful artillery barrages, were forcing some Nazis into the river to drown. The Rus sians were taking prisone,s the noted, as well as killing hundreds of Germans in various sectors.
 Rostov's position became critical as the Russo-G German war entered its 14th month.
 The Germans threatened wheel ing movement from Noovocherkassk which would invest it, city of more than 500, 900 people in key position at the mouth of the Don, on three sides.
 Novoocherkassk, capital of the Don Cosack country with 100000 in- habitants, is situated on a plateau intersected by ravines and consid- erably more suitable for defense than the rolling Steppe lands to the northeast around Tsimlyans- kaya, whence the Germans were