NO ADVANCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13775, 19 October 1942, Page 3

NO ADVANCE

GERMAN FORCES

Stalingrad Battle

Terrific Assaults by Enemy

London. Oct- IS

Stalingrad still holds in spite of renewed and very fierce German infantry, air and artillery attacks. The Germans succeeded in one place in breaking through to the factory area but at the end of the day nearly all the tanks which took part in this advance had been destroyed. Elsewhere in Stalingrad all enemy attacks have been repelled. The German idea is to keep up a continuous air attack and when they run out of bombs they load up with steel rails, scrap iron and anything of weight to drop on the Russians. A Moscow correspondent says the situation remains critical but no fresh enemy advance has been made during the past 12 hours.

During last night six enemy attacks were beaten off in one sector. In some sectors the Russians have not only re-established their positions but have improved them.

The Luftwaffe is concentrating on the Volga crossing and it is almost impossible to get supplies across except at night.

One wooden bridge, supported by barrels, has been attacked from the air 27 times. Although 740 bombs were aimed at it only two direct hits were scored and the damage was repaired in 12 hours.

In the Caucasus the Germans are intensifying their efforts to advance toward Grosny but are still meeting with no success. One attack made with 35 tanks were broken up by the Russians. Special S.S. and Viking divisions are being employed but without making any gains. The Russians recaptured a hill. On the Black Sea coast the position remains unchanged.