VERY DISTURBING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1942, Page 3

VERY DISTURBING

NAZI GAINS IN CAUCASUS

ANOTHER MIRACLE AT

STALINGRAD

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2. The Russians have again slightly improved their positions within Stalingrad and also in the southern outskirts, but Moscow itself is increasingly drawing attention to the position in the Caucasus. The German claim to have captured Alagirskaya, west of the Terek River, and the bombing of Vladikavkaz indicates a significant move towards the Caspian which is regarded as highly disturbing. The Germans on the Nalchik front have made their fifth territorial gain since the beginning of their offensive last week. They are continuing to throw in infantry, tanks, and planes.

The town of Tuapse still stands as a bulwark of Soviet strength in the Black Sea. The Germans are thrusting from two. sides, but have been thrown back.

There has been a sudden increase in the Soviet air strength throughout the Caucasus.

Reuters Moscow correspondent says it can now be revealed that the situation of the factory forts at Stalingrad last week was most critical. The exhausted defenders, after repelling repeated German assaults, were faced on Friday with an onslaught by 50,000 troops and two tank divisions. It seemed that the 'defenders must be overwhelmed, but the weekend saw another miracle of resistance, and the attack was brought to a standstill. Vichy radio reports that the Russian air force is increasingly active'on a broad front west" of Moscow, and is bombing Vitebsk and other railway junctions, through which Axis troops and supplies are travelling to the front.