BIG FLARE-UP ALONG CAUCASU FRONT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 238, 8 October 1942, Page 5

BIG FLARE-UP ALONG CAUCASU FRONT

MOUNTAIN BATTLES

Soviet Black Sea Fleet's

Strong Support

United Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 7~ Fighting is flaring up on all sectors of the Caucasus front. The Germans are intensifying their offensive to smash through the coastal 1 hills to Tuapse and also in the Mosdok and Terek areas, where they are attempting simultaneous thrusts eastward toward Grozny and southwestward in support of the Black Sea coastal forces. i

The German High Command states that the Germans south of Terek have taken the town of Malgobek situated in the important oil district. While the battle for Stalingrad still holds first place in the news from Russia, all messages indicate the importance of the new phase of the fighting in the Caucasus, in which the enemy has massed huge forces at Mosdok, in the eastern Caucasus, and is launching attack after attack in a full-scale attempt to make a quick break through to the Grozny oilfields.

The Germans are trying to drive along both branches of the railway and in their first push achieved a slight success, but they have not been able to make any important gap in the mountain defence line.

The enemy is throwing in hundreds of tanks in the drive to Grozny and is suffering terrific losses for the very small advance he has made. Forty out of 100 German tanks were put out of action in one thr.ust, and the Germans were forced to retire. They attacked again with 70 tanks, of which 22 were put out of action, and they retired again.

One report says heavy German attacks with fresh troops have developed at three points along a wider front on the Terek River, but so far they have not progressed. In a narrow valley in the Mosdok area, the Germans, by superior weight, penetrated the outskirts of one locality, but were compelled to retreat.

The Rome radio claims that the Germans are rapidly developing their advance and are preparing to overwhelm the Russian defences on the whole of this front.

Reports from Moscow say the Germans in the Mosdok area are bringing up fresh forces and large numbers of planes. They are suffering heavily under Russian artillery and surprise counter-attacks, but are stubbornly pressing on.

The Germans have brought Alpine units into the line south-east of Xovorossisk, on the Black Sea front. Heavy enemy attacks south-east of Novorossisk have been repulsed.

German suggestions that the Russian Black Sea fleet is incapacitated and in refuge in Turkish ports are categorically denied. The Times Istanbul correspondent says the fleet is displaying the greatest offensive spirit and taking daily heavier toll of Axis shipping. Its mastery of the Black Sea is undisputed. The Russian Black Sea fleet has joined in the battles of the west Caucasus, the big warships supporting the Cossack cavalry and the gunboats assisting the Cossacks and barring the river valleys. The Germans have concentrated reserves from Crimea in this region.