The Wilmington morning star., 1942-07-14
NAZIS SMASH THROUGH
REDS AT VORONEZH
CONTINUED from Page One)

tions to the Russians; and conquer
the oil riches of the Caucasus it.
self.
The conquest of the Caucasus
might preclude any major organ
lied Soviet resistance to the Nazis
in this area for some time.
The Soviet communique had this
to say of the three vital sectors:
Voronezh -"Our troops fought
fierce battles against the German
Fascist troops who broke through
the front in the district of Voronezh
the situation remains grave"
Boguchar Fierce battles con-
tinue against enemy tanks and mo-
torized infantry. south of Bogu-
char fierce fighting is taking place
against numerically superior ene-
my forces. after stubborn de-
fensive battles our defenders re-
treated to new positions.
Lisichansk-"In the district east
of Lisichansk our troops retreated
to previously prepared defense po-
sitions. Mobile groups and aircraft
covering the withdrawal are pin
ming the enemy down and inflict-
ing heavy losses on him."
The Nazis fast were getting into
position to wheel both to the
north and south from their long
wedge which is the greatest pene-
tration yet of Soviet soil
From Voronezh they could turn
northwest toward Moscow, 300
miles away. From Boguchar they
could turn southwest toward Stall
ingrad; and from Lisichansk they
could curve southwark to outflank
the Russian defenses at Rostov on
the sea of Azov and thus gain entry
to the Caucasian oil fields.
The Russians have been waging
gallant fight to retain control of
Voronezh, a key railway city on
the Moscow-Rostov line, in a coun-
try where the railroads are far in
sufficient for the immense terri
tory they serve.
The Germans claimed the cap
ture of Voronezh as long ago as
July 7.
Using superior numbers of first
line troops in many sectors of the
200 mile front and everywhere a
preponderance of tanks and ma
teriel, the Germans had rolled
back the staunch defenders to with
in 200 miles of the vitally impor-
tant industrial city of Stalingrad
on the Volga.
This was the force that drove
Marshal Timoshenko's men from
Kantenirovka and was fighting
furiously in the neighborhood of
Boguchar, within sight of the Don,
after 170-mile advance in one
week.
Another powerful force which ov-
errun Lisichansk, on the Donets
200 miles south of Voronezh, was
only 125 miles north of Rostov, the
Caucasus gateway at the mouth of
the Don where the Russians turned
the tide of battle last winter.
The Soviet communique told
graphically of the bloody battle be-
fore Voronezh, which the Germans
have twice claimed to have captur-
ed six days ago:
Intense fighting continues at the
approaches of Voronezh, during
which the enemy is suffering enor-
NOUS losses. In fighting for one
place a Soviet tank unit destroyed
II anti-tank guns. and wiped
out 300 of the enemy. Soviet artil-
lery repulsed infantry at close
range. Hundreds of enemy dead
were left on the field"
Far to the north in the area be-
tween Moscow and besieged Lenin-
grad, the battles on the Kalinln
sector erupted with such added vio-
lence that a major new offensive
appeared to be in the making. The
Germans brought up new tanks
and infantry units in that area and
succeeded in driving some local
wedges in Soviet positions, but only
at a severe cost. Dispatches from
that front said the Russians were
counter-attacking strongly over the
whole area. Fierce tank battles
were raging, and the Soviet COM
munique said the Germans lost 900
men, 5