German Exhaustion In Stalingrad

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 107, 2 November 1942, Page 5

German Exhaustion In Stalingrad

LONDON, November 1. The German afttacks on the factory district of Stalingrad have again decreased in violence. The. "News Chronicle" correspondent in Moscow says that the reason for the slackening' of the German pressure is probably clue partly to the growing Russian air attacks and partly to the steadily growing exhaustion of the attackers. He says that for the first time for some while the Germans have launched only small-scale attacks, and in the past 24 hours the Russians, have not merely beaten all attacks but have sotne-Avhat-improved their positions.

Nevertheless, reports point out that the situation is still strained, and the issues at Stalingrad are as vital as they were in the summer.

The most recent dispatches say that during the past couple of days the Germans have been attacking with battalions and regiments, compared with forces up to bhalf a division strong in the middle of last week.

The position at Nalchik, in the Caucasus, is reported to be less satisfactory. The Germans are taking advantage of the better network of roads they control, and are using greatßy superior forces for the attack. At one or two points the Russians have had to fall back to new defence lines after same heavy fighting.

Near Tuapse the Russians again have had the best of the fighting and have captured some enemy positions.