ANOTHER AXIS WEDGE

Evening Star, Issue 24297, 11 September 1942, Page 3

ANOTHER AXIS WEDGE

Stalingrad's Western Defences STREET FIGHTING IN NOVOROSSISK Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Received noon.) LONDON, September 11. The latest Moscow communique speaks of fierce engage* meats to the west and south-west of Stalingrad, and also in the region of the Caucasus and in the area of Mosdok. Street fighting continues in the streets of the Black Sea port of Novorossisk, The Germans have driven another wedge into the western defences of Stalingrad, and the Russians have •vacuated three more populated localities. In the south-west the Soviet troops have repelled an '«nemy attack with tanks, and Russian artillery has dispersed large concentrations of infantry. Russian bombers last night raided in force Berlin, Konigsberg, and other towns in eastern Germany while British bombers were attacking western Germany. The Russians also bombed Budapest. Details of the fighting in the vicinity of Novorossisk show that the Germans cut deep wedges in the defence positions from two directions. Then two columns joined up, attempting to break through into the city. The Red Army counterattacked, however, split the forces, and completely encircled one column. The encircled Germans succeeded in fighting their way out to the north-west suburbs, where the Russians are seeking to wipe out the whole column before it is reinforced. The fiercest fighting appears tg be taking place west of Stalingrad, where the Germans launched another strong frontal attack, and the Russians occupied new lines after ievere fighting. The Germans were manifestly disconcerted by the Russian resistance. A Berlin spokesman stated that no turning point had yet been reached in the battle. The Russians were suddenly able to counter-attack in considerable strength, and the German High Command had been unable to discover where, these complete fresh divisions came from. Consequently this development foreshadowed a longer siege than was expected.