NO RELAXATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 307, 9 October 1942, Page 4

NO RELAXATION

THE PRESSURE ON STALINGRAD. DEFENCE EQUALLY FIRM. TEhf ATTACKS FAIL IN ONE DAY. .(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright). (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8. To-day—the fifth day of their all-out onslaught to rub out north-western Stalingrad—the Germans showed no signs of relaxing the pressure. There were equally no signs, of the defence cracking.

A German military spokesman claimed that the Red Army, especially north-west-of Stalingrad, was showing signs of exhaustion and he forecast a decisive outcome of the battle before the week-end.

The Moscow radio, on the contrary, says that the Russians, north-west of the city are persistently methodically breaking up the Axis defences. German l’eports continue to mention Russian pressure against the Axis flank south of Stalingrad. Neither the' Russians nor the Germans, however, are overlooking the importance of the battle for the 1 Caucasus, where winter is laying a hampering hand on the last of all Russian front®.

It is indicative of the Russians’ skiil and determination that for six weeks they have kept the- German advance in the Mozdok area under two miles a week. Their resistance in the western Caucasus is equally stubborn and reports to Moscow to-day say that the Germans have not gained an inch in the west Caucasus since the fall of Novorossiisk 26 days ago, despite the destruction of 1000 of their troops daily.

Ten attacks against the north-west; sector of Stalingrad were, repulsed today. The Russians counter-attacked and in one area killed 1000* Germans. The British United Press correspondent at Moscow says that the Germans failed to advance at anyi point in the last 24 hours..

The Soviet Army newspaper “Red Star” reveals that one German thrust carried a German detachment dangerously near the Volga. They launched a surprise night attack, penetrated a hollow leading to the Volga, and reached its mouth near the river bank. The situation is serious because no Russian artillery AVas \ available locally. The Russians, however, checked the thrust with grenades until they were reinforced, when they threw back the Germans, who left the hollow strewn with their dead. Fierce fighting has again broken out at Rzhev. The Germans have thrown in two fresh divisions of infantry and tanks, attempting to cut off the Russians on the outskirts, of Rzhev, which is reported to be ablaze, hardly a single house escaping' the flames. •

The Germans reopened the offensive at Rzhev on October 2, but so far the Russians have hurled back attacks and captured a number of fortified points.