NAZIS AGAIN APPLY HEAVY PRESSURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 256, 29 October 1942, Page 6

NAZIS AGAIN APPLY HEAVY PRESSURE

STALINGRAD FRONT

Red Army's Relief Drive

Worrying Germans

Uniiril Pirn.; Association—Copyrisrht Pec. 2.:: up hi. LONDON. Oct. 28. Pressure against, northern Stalingiad in the past 2 1 hours has been very heavy. The Germans are piling a Mack on attack with large tank and infantry forces. German losses were again severe, but they have gained so me more ground. Cerman counteraftacks again flared up north-west of Stalingrad Their bitterness and persistence show that the Germans ieg,iril the Russian relief drive as dangerous. Russian forces northwest and south of Stalingrad continue to nibble forward.

A big battle is raging north-east of I ilapse, on the Black Sea coast where the Germans are doing their "i:no-t to encircle the port in preparation for il s reduction and the elimination of stubborn Russian forces between Novorossisk and Tuapse.

Both sides report, gains on this front. A Tnss Agency dispatch Mates that the Russians, in a coun-ter-at lack, forced the Germans to withdraw Irom the hill positions which the Germans had recently captured in their drive towards Tuapse. A Cerman communique says tnat the Germans south-east of* Novojossisk, after several days of heavy lighting, captured a commanding range of heights and also captured a •strongly fortified and stubbornly defended mountain position cast o*f Tuapse.

That the Russians will retain Stalingrad and that the Germans will not get Grozny or Baku oilfields this winter is the opinion expressed by Admiral Standlcy, U.S. Ambassador lo Moscow, who is at present in Washington. He added: "Russia will light to the hitter end." An informant with a first-hand knowledge of Russian events told the Press that, M. Stalin was satislied that the United States military operations in the Pacific had forced Japan to postpone attack against Siberia. Me emphasised that, the Russian people do not regard the present offensive in Egypt., even if successful, as the fulfilment of the second front pledge. Reported Nazi Move for Truce Reports from Stockholm say the German High Command, through the Red Cross, offered the Russians a l'our-day suspension of hostilities around Stalingrad to enable both sides to pick up their wounded and bury their dead. The Russians agreed, with the stipulation that the terms of the agreement should be published in Germany. The Germans refused, and the negotiations were then terminated. At the end of one day of fierce street battles the Germans had lost nearly 1000 dead and many guns, while numbers of tanks were left blazing and shattered wrecks. A practical stalemate prevails in the factory area. General Rodimsteff is still directing the resistance of the Russian Guards from his headquarters in a cellar, which is like a coal mine with tree trunks buttressing the walls. It is now revealed that the tide of battle was turned at a critical stage a month ago by a motorised division of the Russian Guards, who have since been engaged in defending hard-pressed factory areas. Inside Stalingrad itself the enemy has made no further progress. Many of the factories are still working and tanks are being repaired under bombardment. The Associated Press correspondent reports that the Luftwaffe continues to concentrate against the sectors holding out in the Stalingrad area. Fierce fighting, with large enemy tank and infantry forces, continues in the Stalingrad area, says the Soviet communique. In spite of the enemy's numerical superiority, Russian troops repulsed attacks. Only in the area of two streets and at the price of heavy losses did the enemy succeed in pushing forward in the south. The enemy also continued their unsuccessful attacks north-west of Stalingrad. North-west of Tuapse our troops continue active operations, and east of Novorossisk Soviet marines penetrated a locality occupied by the enemy.