Evening star., 1942-07-25
Russiu
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kuSSIQ
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tions to the south to establish q
! four way offensive.
"On one sector the Germans sue
ceeded in breaking into the positions
of our troops" the Soviet Informa-
ton Bureau said. I'm fierce battles
which frequently developed In hand
to-hand fighting our men annihi-
lated over 1000 Germans, set fire
to 1S German tanks and destroyed
three self-propelled guns and IA ma
chine guns"
Heavy Cost Pointed Out.
A Nazi advance also was recorded
In another section OF the Rostov
zone, but this was declared to have
been made only at q disproportion-
ate cost after all the defenders OF
these positions died the death OF the
brave, fighting to the last drop OF
blood for their native land"
German resistance at Voronezh,
at the northern extremity Of the
tense Don front, was reported
stronger. but the Red Army on the
western bank struck to the outskirts
of q large populated place southwest
of the city. The Germans were try
ing to throw new bridges across the
river, but Russian artillery was
hamperlng every such effort.
Red Star said the German S7th
and 168th Infantry Divisions REIN
forced by artillery formations had
been thrown into the Voronezh bat
tie. The Germans were making
every effort to prevent the successful
Russian defense from growing into a
counterattack on the flank OF the
extended armies in the south.
Russians Cross River.
A dispatch from the Bryansk
front. southwest Of Moscow. said
Red tanks crossed an unidentified
river and plunged against the Ger
man rear wrecking communications
and reaching fresh German divi-
sion intended for reinforcement of
voronezh operations. The defeated
German 34Oth Division was shifted
to the Bryansk wedge, the dispatch
said. but 1t was crippled quickly and
forced to retire.
(The German high command
declared yesterday that, although
mopping-up operations remained,
Rostov had been captured. The
Vichy radio said Notwithstanding
explosions of delayed action
bombs planted by the Russians
were hindering the Nazi occu-
patton.
(1he German high command
today said the fighting for Don
River crossings is in full swing
on a broad front at Rostov and
east OF that city. The area of
Rostov Is being cleared OF Rus
sian troops, while the city of
Novocherkassk, 20 miles north
east of Rostov, had been cap
tured, Berlin communique
said.)
Grave Threat to Caucasus.
Red Army men fought around the
clock to check the grave threat to
the trans-Causasus, region of 95, ,405
square miles (almost as large as
Oregon) containing a wealth Of pc
troleum, timber and minerals cov-
eted by Adolf Hitler.
The information bureau told of
heavy fighting in the Rostov area.
Intense and sanguinary battles
are taking place. it said. "On one
OF the sectors our artillery tank de-
stroyers repelled six enemy attacks
and destroyed eight German tanks.
Approaches to the fortified dis
tricts are Uttered with the corpses
of thousands of HitIerites. However.
disregarding their losses, the enemy
continues to throw more and more
forces into the battle"
Fighting for Don River crossings
In the region of Tsimlyansk was de-
clared to have cost the invaders more
than $500 dead on q single sector
yesterday.
Russian Counter Blows.
I'm another sector" it was re-
ported, the Germans were able,
under cover OF their air force and
heavy artillery 1re. to cross the
river. With counter blows, our units
encircled and destroyed the infantry
regiment which had broken
through
Local fighting persisted on the
Kalinin front northwest of Moscow
and German infantry broke into
Russian trenches at one point. The
information bureau said few of these
survived the hand-to-hand fighting
which followed. $50 perishing.
Russian tanks, artillery and in
fantry captured a German strong
point on the Leningrad front after
several hours Of fighting, 1t was
announced. The information bureau
reported is blockhouses were de-
stroyed and war supplies and pris-
oners were captured.