FIGHTING FOR STALINGRAD

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 3

FIGHTING FOR STALINGRAD

GERMAN FLANK MOVE SLOWED DOWN

RUSSIAN GAINS AT « VORONEZH (Received August 11, 11 p.m.)(N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, August 11. In the fighting for Stalingrad the Russians are making a determined bid to stem the German advance. To the north-west (at Kletskaya) and in the south-west (at Kotelnikov) the Russians are making small-scale but successful counter-thrusts. A particularly fierce stand is being made in the Kotelnikov area, where the Germans have been advancing along the railway. One village changed hands 12 times before the Germans finally established themselves firmly in it. Operations in the Kotelnikov region have not relaxed, and fighting in the Kletskaya sector yesterday was most violent. Yet the Germans, ignoring their losses, repeatedly hurled in reinforced tank units and infantry. The Russians in this area are only just hanging on. In the Don bend enemy tanks and motorised infantry were repulsed. In this region the Germans are throwing in reinforcements and their tanks are j f-harging along roads and across fields till everywhere clouds of dust and , smoke hang over the steppes, Soviet anti-tank riflemen are challenging them from hideouts. The Russians are still offering a stout resistance and are holding firm. The Germans’ flanking movement up the railway towards Stalingrad has slowed down. At Kotelnikov more German attacks have been beaten off. This is the twentieth day of the fighting in the elbow and the Germans have net yet succeeded in breaking out of it and over the Don towards Stalingrad. Agency messages from Moscow tonight state that air battles over the Don are daily becoming fiercer. Voronezh and Rzhcv Fronts Around Voronezh the Germans are striking back more strongly than for ■-ome time. The Russians still hold the initiative. They have crossed the Don at a new point and continue to drive the enemy back. It was earlier stated that the Russians in the Voronezh area had gained some ground, but the fighting was at present merely locally important. The Russians continue their drive against the German fortified positions on the west bank o.f the river at Voronezh. The Russian attack in this sector has now proceeded for five uays and an exceptionally fierce struggle is going on south of the town. North of the town the Russians have captured several strategic points. The Russians report only patrol activity north-west of Moscow, but the Germans say important Russian attacks have been taking place in the Rzhev area. A German spokesman, m Berlin said: “We do not under-esti-mate the difficulty of our task at Rzhev.” . , The Berlin radio stated that big battles have been raging in the Rzhcv sector, north-west of Moscow, since July 30, with the Russians day after day sending over strong infantry and tank forces, supported by artillery, but all the attacks were repulsed. RAIDERS OVER BRITAIN (Received August 11, 11 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. Enemy bombers crossed the coast of East Anglia and south-east England in rmall numbers last night. Bombs were dropped in scattered places, and at one place in East Anglia several persons arc believed to have been trapped when a mental hospital was hit. London had a short alert, but no bombs were dropped. A single enemy aeroplane dropped bombs early last evening in a district on the south coast of England. No damage is reported and no casualties. Eighteen wardens received burns when a Heinkel last night crashed on a south -oast hostel, setting fire to neighbouring buildings with fj *9, ~ phosphorus bombs. The Heinkel s crew of five were burned to death. Nearby streets were strewn with ammunition from (he aeroplane and several other civil defence personnel were treated in hospital for burns after touching parts of the aeroplane which v. as covered with phosphorus. During last week British air losses over Germany and occupied territory were 17. and two German aircraft were shot down. The Ruhr was attacked on three consecutive nights. Duisburg being the chief target. Over occupied territory fighters continued to disrupt enemy communications, attacking railways and coastal shipping. Enemy activity over Britain was on a slightly increased scale, mostly in the coastal areas. Thirteen enemy machines were shot down. In the Middle East British losses were 26 and the enemy’s nine. Goebbels to-day spoke to the workers remaining at Cologne, which was the target for the first British 1000bomber raid. He also spoke to the people of Aachen and Dusseldorf. After inspecting the ruins, Goebbels is said to have spoken with deep emotion of what he described as the ruthless British Air Force. He said that Hitler’s thoughts were always with the people when British bombs were raining down. .IRAN AND THE ALLIES POLICY BASED ON TREATY (Received August 11, 11 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. The new Prime Minister of Iran (Ahmed Ghavar Saltaneh) said yesterday relations between Iran and Britain and Russia will be based on the Treaty of Alliance. His Government would observe the terms of the treaty with the utmost cordiality. He also referred to the friendly relations existing between Iran and the United States, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Egypt. German Army Pills Analysed. —Pills claimed by the Nazis to give “pep” to their panzer troops, taken from cap- ; tured Germans in the Middle East, have been analysed in London and found to consist of low-grade sugar which is not equal to the boiled sweets which form part of the British troops’ daily ration—London. August 10.