ATTACKS FAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24423, 5 November 1942, Page 4

ATTACKS FAIL

NAZIS AT STALINGRAD DEFENDERS' SUCCESSES (Heed. 11 ,;iO p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 4 Little change is reported from Stalingrad, where the Russians are still ousting the Germans from factory ruins in the northern suburbs. The Russians have also further improved their positions between the Volga and the Don, and arc continually . disturbing the Germans' winter preparations farther up the Don. Renter's correspondent in Moscow tells of a daring Russian landing by night on the banks of the Volga above Stalingrad by a Soviet ii tie division. They relieved a tense situation that had been developing in the factory area. They landed in cutters and crept across from the west bank of the river under cover of darkness. Their arrival surprised the enemy, who was required to divert a considerable number of' his troops from the threatened area. The Soviet's communique says the enemy brought up large reserves and threw into the battle two infantry divisions, -JO tanks and large numbers o! planes. The fighting was particularly fierce and often hand-to-hand. On some sectors lour and five attacks were launched and all were repelled wit It heavy losses to the enemy. In one factory area Russian troops dislodged the enemy from several points. At least 2000 Germans were killed and the enemy losses of materials were also heavy.

Soviet infantry north-west of Stalingrad dislodged the enemy from several fortified positions after an artillery preparation. News from t'iie Russian front continues to give prominence to the successes of the Stalingrad defenders and to the disquieting German gains in the Central Caucasus. Hitting back hard, the Russians in Stalingrad in the past -18 hours have repeatedly improved their positions The Germans havefailed to advance a single foot in the factory districts and have also failed to recapture lost ground. The fighting continues to bo bitter, with the Russians repelling enemy attacks and consolidating their positions. In the factory area they dislodged the enemy from several buildings. BASTION OF KRONSTADT LONDON, Nov. 3 A correspondent says that one of the most important reasons for the German failure to take Leningrad is the great bastion of Kronstadt. Warships, including submarines and transports, are regularly leaving the harbour, while, on the other hand, more than 40 enemy transports have been sunk by Russian submarines in these waters. A report 'to-day says the Russian Baltic fleet has sunk three German transports totalling 35.000 tons. Engagements continue in the Kalinin sector. The Luftwaffe is carrying out several hundred flights daily. MAXIMUM SERVICE AUSTRALIAN AUSTERITY PERTH. Nov. 4 "We are getting stronger and we can fool a sense of confidence as the result of rebuffs the enemy has suffered during the last three months," said the Australian Prime Minister,- Mr. J. Curtin, in a speech launching the Federal Government's £100.000,000 Austerity Loan appeal. "The enemy can come no further south than he has reached, and he is being gradually forced to a reconsideration of the uses of his fighting forces. But we have not yet commenced our offensive." Every Australian must organise his spending capacity, said the Prime .Minister. People had to discipline themselves. They must not waste money or food, and must not use services needed by the fighting forces. The nation would have to do better than it had ever done before if the Japanese were to be driven back. "The troo|)S do not moan," he said. "Neither must you. The Government makes no apology for imposing what is called 'austerity' on the Australian public. There is no place of escape for the people of this country or of an.v country until an absolute decision has been reached in the struggle. The sensible thing, as well as the patriotic thing, is to adapt ourselves to a maximum capacity of service."