CAUCASUS PUSH

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1942, Page 5

CAUCASUS PUSH

BY THE ENEMY STALINGRAD BATTLE ' No Nearer Decision [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON,. Oct. 7. Wednesday’s official Soviet report says: The Germans are bringing up reserves for the battle of Stalingrad. One Soviet oosition was attacked six times during the day. All the attacks were repelled. Five German tanks were crippeld and an infantry company wiped out. Artillery wiped out an infantry battalion on another sector, and also destroyed three tanks and two mortar batteries. Soviet troops improved their positions north-west of Stalingrad. Hitler’s boast a week ago that the German would take Stalingrad is still unfulfilled, although the situation is full of danger for the Russians. The Germans have again been stopped from thrusting into the heart of the city. A Soviet mid-day communique on Wednesday said that the Germans after bringing up reserves launched attack after attack on the Russian positions. Six successive German attacks in one sector were thrown back with heavy losses. The communique does not name the sectors where fighting -is going on. RELIEF PUSH RUSSIAN PROGRESS LONDON, Oct. 7. A Soviet communique on Wednesday said that north-west of Stalingrad Soviet troops continue their offensive operations. The Germans are constantly counter-attacking without success. On one height there were 10 attacks and counterattacks in succession. A Moscow message reports: Soviet forces made progress north-west of Stalingrad in face of heavy opposition. Russians are infiltrating and breaking enemy lines. The Germans have put in tanks to use as pillboxes. The Germans are- reported to have changed their tactics of us-, ing tanks in large numbers. They are using only small groups, and are busy erecting a gr,eac number of strongholds and digging trenches.

Bloodier Clash STALINGRAD FACTORY AREA. RUSSIANS HANG ON. [‘British Official Wireless] (Rec.' 7.40.) RUGBY, October 7. According to Wednesday night’s Moscow communique, the Russians were firmly holding the positions in Stalingrad. It stated that, in Stalingrad the Germans were unsuccessfully attacking. They constantly attacked with large concentrations of tanks and infantry. (Rec. 7.15.) LONDON. October 7. A battle for the factory. area of north-western Stalingrad, which began at dawn on Sunday, was still raging on Wednesday. Iti. has proven clearly, the bloodiest clash in the whole Stalingrad conflict. German forces all Tuesday night launched attack after attack. Guns and tanks frequently fought duels at Dolnt-blank range. Groups fought hand-to-hand among the ruins in the murky light of flares, flame-throwers and gun flashes. The Germans failed to advance Op a ragged front by a single yard. The battle was continued without a nause at daylight on Wednesday.

There is a stream of German reinforcements still coming up in ’planes. The Red Air Force, are dropping leaflets welcoming the newcomers to “a German graveyard.” The “Red Star” Moscow, described the attacks 'of 1 the Germans on Tues r da v in north-western Stalingrad. It declared: “Never have the Axis forces paid so dearly for small advances. They switched one thousand ’nlanesi to this sector, and they broke through in depth. A dangerous situation developed. But the Russians brought up new reserves, which went into battle straight from their march. Their violent counter-attacks prevented the Germans from consolidating. and finally forced them to fall back to their former line. Russian forces retain the initiative in the north-west and south-west of Stalingrad. But there is no diminution to the grim and bitter German defence in these sectors. RUSSIANS RECROSS DON. ATTEMPT TO CUT ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7. The German News Agency in a first direct reference to the Russian offensives to relieve Stalingrad states: Marshal Timoshenko aims to cut the German communications with Stalingrad. The Stefani. News Agency of Italy reveals that Russians engaged in the drive to relieve Stalingrad from the north, threw ia pontoon bridge across the Don River after which Russian troops all night poured across the river. The S'tefani message also says that Italian planes were strafing the pontoon bridge. ORDER TO HOLD ON. TO STALINGRAD DEFENDERS [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 7.50.) LONDON, October 7. The Russian comm’ander in Stalingrad, General Todinstsev, issued on Wednesday, .an Order of the Day, telling the troopsi that the city must be held’ at all costs. He added: “I am confident that, despite all difficulties and all trials, we will smash ths German hordes.” LENINGRAD FRONT LONDON, October 7. Heavy fighting is reported in the region of Sinyavino, south of Leningrad. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says: Though beleaguered Leningrad is maintaining continual traffic across Lake Ladoga, and also by air, principally at night time, everything is used at night from obsolescent biplanes to armoured fighters. The Germans have had little success in preventing traffic between Leningrad and Kronstadt, although shipping is confined to a narrow channel, dredged across a shallow bay. which is within the range of German guns. Whenever the moon is too bright or fogs and mists are absent, the Red Air Force blankets the channel and also German positions by dropping fog drums. SNIPERS’ FEAT 2366 SHOT IN THREE DAYS [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 7.40) LONDON, Oct. 8. Moscow radio reports: *,A sniper unit belonging to the Soviet Baltic Fleet accounted to 2366 Germans during the past three days.