MANY FORTRESSES INSIDE STALINGRAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 3

MANY FORTRESSES INSIDE STALINGRAD

BARRIERS TO HUNS Every Building Converted Into A Firing Point U.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 17. Now that the battle for Stalingrad has become a struggle for the city itself, Stalingrad has been converted into a multitude of minor fortresses within one huge stronghold. Everv house, intact or in ruins, is a firing point, states a Moscow message. Even if the Germans occupy the north-west outskirts they will have to overcome barricades, tank traps and all kinds of obstacles in trying to penetrate through the streets, and will have to fight for every house. The Russians are determined to hold on to the last. The Germans are still hurling in tanks, planes and men, but in spite of superiority in numbers they have achieved very little. There is savage fighting going on'in the outskirts of the* city and the enemy advance has been slowed down. The Russians are counter-attacking for possession of the high ground just north of the suburbs of Stalingrad. The position has been restored to a greater extent than the reports intimate, but the Germans are -rushing forces up in planes. In the air the enemy is also keeping up the pressure by bombardments. The Russian pilots have been called upon to perform a prodigious part. Crack troops of the Red Army are also playing a big part in the defence of the city. Ferocious Air Fighting Air fighting over Stalingrad is described by the Moscow radio as ferocious. From dawn to dusk the air is filled with the drone of engines and air fights are going on continuously as enemy bombers pound the city and its communications in an attempt to paralyse the Soviet resistance. The Daily Telegraph Stockholm correspondent says the savagery of the fighting at Stalingrad cannot be adequately described because it is unlike anything in history. German reporters in the front line state that the Russians must be exterminated literally one by one. One correspondent says: "The German shock troops must creep forward foot by foot in the face of withering fire from numerous cunningly situated casemates. Only flame throwers and' demolition charges used at short range are able to silence the Russian strong points, even after it has been thought that no man could remain alive after the terrific blasting from artillery and dive bombers. Even after the Germans have dynamited Russian forts they have often been greeted with a fresh storm of fire." Major Disaster Averted A major disaster was averted south-west of Stalingrad, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. The Russians tenaciously held their positions after German tanks and infantry had driven deeply into their lines following a terrific air bombardment. The Russians clung to the German flanks, and their anti-tank guns hammered at the tanks while others hacked at the infantry until the remnants of the attacking force were pushed back to their original positions. The Russians completely restored the situation after a day of terrific fighting in which the Germans got shock troops into the built-up area and in which positions of great tactical importance changed hands repeatedly. The Germans at noon launched a smashing air attack, in which 500 high explosive bombs were dropped on a small area. Enemy forces then pierced the outskirts of the city and appeared well on the way to consolidating their newly-won positions, but they wilted under the desperate Russian flank attacks and fell back to the starting point. GERMAN SHIPS SUNK Rec. 11 a.m. STOCKHOLM, Sept. 17. According to a reliable source in Oslo, submarines and planes last week sank 24 German ships off the Norwegian coast. The strengthening of the Allied blockade of Norway in recent weeks is believed to have contributed towards halting the German offensive against Murmansk after initial successes.

DRAFTS FOR U.S. ARMY Rec. 1 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 17. Despite opposition by the Senate Military Affairs Committee, Senator Gurney said that he would press for immediate action on the bill to draft men of 18 and 19 into the Services. The committee refused to hold hearings on the bill until the War Department reports. Senator Gurney retorted that Hitler and the Japanese were not waiting for elections. He said he had talked with privates, a general and civilians. All who realised the seriousness of this war unanimously demanded that every effort be made to expand the armed forces as rapidly as possible.