RELIEF ATTACKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 305, 7 October 1942, Page 5

RELIEF ATTACKS

PROGRESS AT STALINGRAD. RUSSIAN DEFENCE OF CITY. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, Oct; 6. The Soviet communique issued tonight reports no fresh developments at Stalingrad. The Germans are striving to extend their gains in the northern part of the city by a push towards the centre of the city and the dock area, but have made little headway in face of stubborn Russian resistance. The Russian relief forces north-west and south-west of Stalingrad have made more progress in spite of German counter-thrusts. ,

In their drive towards the Groznyi oilfields, the Germans are still held up in the Mozdok area. .At the Black Sea end of the Caucasus the German forces were pressed back below Novorossiisk by Russian counter-attacks.

The Vichy radio, quoting Berlin, said the German advance was slowed up because the German High Command wishes to avoid “useless losses.’’ When they publicised their broad aims a year ago, the Germans claimed that they iaimed at the speedy annihilation of the Russian armies by a super blitzkrieg, while the Russians grimly announced that they proposed to bleed the Germans to death. The events of the last two months suggest that Moscow rather than Berlin is able to claim that “operations are proceeding according to plan.” During the week-end distinguished Soviet speakers, including the Communist propaganda chief, M. Alexandrov, the historian, Professor Tarle, and a leading publicist, M. Yaroslavsky, expressed confidence that Stalingrad would stand. “These men,” says the Moscow correspondent of “The .Times,” “choose their words carefully. Significance is ialso attached to the arrival, of a political commissar with quantities of comforts for troops at Stalingrad.

“However, there are no grounds for complacency,” siays the correspondent. “The Soviet newspapers do not mince maters in daily reminders of the gravity of the position of the Soviet. Workers are being spurred to even greater efforts.”

. ° days ago the Russians succeeded in recapturing the workers’ area in the north-western suburbs of Stalingrad, but the Germans have again taken about 'half of it after a terrific onslaught.

changes occurred on the Stalingrad front during Sunday night and Monday. Slight Russian gams in the relief drive from the north-west and also in the drive southwest of the city offset even slighter German gains in the industrial area just inside the city’s northwestern edge.

The German reinforcements recently thrown against Stalingrad .are known to include Tavo infantry and -one tank divisions, making the total assaulting the city 35 divisions. The Russians are meeting the ' Luftwaffe offensive against Stalingrad. In the last three days they destroyed 92 German planes, including 44 shot down by anti-aircraft fire. ' • The Caucasus Campaign. In 'the Eastern Caucasus the Germans are reported to have made some headAvay in the vicinity of Mozdolc, Avhero they have gained a foothold in a large populated village. , Oil the Black Sea coast the Germans nave been held up in their advance on Tuapse.

The German drive in the Mozdok area has momentarily halted. The Germans are energetically trying another rouse to the Groznyi oilfields, particularly by the southern railway loop from Prokhladnaya, from which they claim to have progressed 50 miles since reaching Prokhladnaya in August. The Germans are still more than 70 miles from .the oil aa’olls, Avith difficult foothills still ahead.

A Berlin broadcast to-night makes it clear that the Caucasus situation is regarded with misgiving. A general said the Caucasus Mountains were still in the hands of the Russians, who had established a strong and tenacious and numerically superior army there. Emphasising the difficulties of the German troops in this area, he said water was often lacking for men, 'animal's and tanks. This fighting could only be compared with battles in jungles or in glacier regions. The Russians advanced seven miles in the Rzhev area and captured an important height after a day-long battle, in which they routed picked German troops under General von Hoffman. The Russians captured a large amount of booty. How the Germans on the central front dropped eight cases of ammunition over an unnamed height, not knowing that it had been captured by the Russian troops during fierce fighting that day, is described by the Moscow radio. Russian troops used the ammunition against the enemy and followed up their success during the night, advancing a further seven mlies. This advance is believed to have been the one reported in the Rzhev area.

Heavy and inconclusive fighting :is reported from the Leningrad, Lake Ilmen and Voronezh areas.

A Russian airman, Major Zcmlvanov, declared that one unit of 20 Hurricanes, commanded by Major Panov, in two months destroyed 83 enemy aeroplanes for the loss of four Russian pilots and 10 Hurricanes. The f fuel economy, high fire-power, speed and manoeuvrability of the Hurricanes made them splendid escorts for frontline bombers. The Hurricanes proved their worth in dozens of combats over the Russian front.