RUSSIAN ATTACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 23 October 1942, Page 5

RUSSIAN ATTACKS

NORTH-WEST OF CITY SKIRMISHES FOR VANTAGE POINTS (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) Rugby, Oct. 22. Moscow messages say the steppes in the Stalingrad region arc swept by rain and occasional snowstorms, but the Russians are attacking night and day northwest of the city. The battle has broken up into countless skirmishes for heights and vantage points. The Germans have thoroughly fortified their positions, using heights to command the approaches to villages and crossroads. Rain has not damped the fury of the fighting but is interfering with mech- j anised warfare as the surface of the roads has been washed away. A Stockholm report says the renewed Russian attacks are occupying chief interest in Berlin, where the might of men and machines striving to roll up the German line is stressed. East of Novorissiisk, the Germans appear to be still attacking. There have been heavy snowfalls on the j mountains. GERMAN TACTICS DESCRIBED There is little news from the Mosdok area, but the following description of German tactics is given in; a Moscow message:—“After w*eeks of j heavy tank losses caused by Russian artillery and anti-tank rifles, the Germans have sharply reduced the scale of their tank operations. German tanks take up initial positions three or four miles from the front lines with guards on the look-out for tank hunters with their armourpiercing bullets. The Germans simulate mass tank attacks to draw Soviet artillery fire then withdraw the main body of tanks and throw in infantry. In one sector tanks attacked Soviet positions and turned back in the face of heavy fire. After a short interval the real assault was made by motorised infantry, supported by only J five tanks. This was repulsed with j heavy losses. Soviet infantry, with, armour-piercing two-man rifles not; only meet German tank attacks with volleys from trenches but go out hunting tanks oA light trucks. One : sergeant crippled six tanks in four' hours. Infantry attack German tanks even with ordinary rifles.—B.O.W. I