RUSSIANS STAND FIRM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25015, 8 September 1942, Page 3

RUSSIANS STAND FIRM

HEROIC STALINGRAD DEFENCE

TERRIFIC GERMAN ONSLAUGHT

(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. The only German progress against Stalingrad reported during the week-end is the capture of a small railway station south-west of the city after a terrific effort. The German High Command to-night states: "Strong Russian reserves have reached the Stalingrad front. The Russians threw in 10 rifle divisions and seven tank brigades. All the Soviet counter-attacks were conducted with extreme bitterness, but were repulsed." The German propaganda machine continues to issue warnings •gainst expectations of a " cheap success." The Rome radio broadcast an Italian war correspondent's impressions of Stalingrad's defences as a "mushroom growth of minefields, which ring the city. This growth of pillboxes, artillery positions, and barbed wire is several miles deep, and there is also a network of antitank obstacles, including huge steel staples driven into the ground,

great anti-tank ratchet-wheels, and camouflaged underground strongpoints reinforced with steel and concrete, and armed with heavy machine guns. Quick firing anti-tank guns and armoured cupolas shield the permanent forts." The Moscow correspondent of The Times says the

Wehrmacht is maintaining the utmost pressure against Stalingrad, but the stout-hearted defenders have been holding the lines since Friday. Almost 40 divisions menace ruined Stalingrad, which is a city with poor natural defences. A violent battle has been raging south-west of the city since dawn on Friday, and gunfire has reached unprecedented intensity. The newspaper Izvestia says that large forces of infantry, tanks, artillery, and planes are in action on both sides. The Germans launched seven attacks with over 100 tanks in one sector during 24 hours, but all were repulsed. Prisoners are unanimous about the heaviness of the enemy's losses. The Red air force is successfully attacking motor transport columns and petrol tankers along the enemy's long communication lines, Izvestia adds. German infantry have suffered appalling losses under Russian shellfire and mortars. The massive enemy wedge in Stalingrad's northwestern defences has not been substantially widened in the past 48 hours.

GERMAN CLAIM

CITY IN RUINS

CAPTURE OF NOVOROSSKK RUSSIAN NAVAL BASE (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. A special German High Command communique issued to-night stated that Novorossisk had been captured after several days of heavy fighting. London military writers state that the loss of Novorossisk would be a heavy blow to the Red Fleet, because it is one of the main bases. "When Marshal Timoshenko withdrew the bulk of his forces from the south for the defence of Stalingrad he left only a small force, mainly Cossacks, who have gallantly held out for weeks against overwhelming odds. The'Moscow correspondent of The Times says the German force on the Black Sea is large, and its future movements will need to be carefully watched. The 350-mile front between the Black Sea and the edge of the Grozny oilfields is the scene of sporadic fighting along the foot of the Caucasus, where the Cossacks are conducting active defence. The Russians report that 35 German tanks and a strong force of infantry crossed a river in the Mosdok area, presumably the Terek. Fifteen of the tanks were destroyed, and a battle is raging on the south bank of the river. The Russians routed the Rumanians south of Prokladnaya and recaptured an important height. They also recaptured several more villages in the Rjev area. Street fighting continues in the city's outskirts. The Russians on the Bryansk front took two important hill positions and renulsed counterattacks in the Voronezh area.

STALINGRAD FIGHTS ON GERMANS' COSTLY ASSAULT LONDON, Sept. 6. The Russians are inflicting enormous losses on Stalingrad's attackers, but have not affected the pressure which the Germans are maintaining on all sectors. The Germans are still bringing up fresh reserves, punching for weak spots and doing their utmost to widen the wedges. The south-western approaches are still the scene of the fiercest fighting. The situation here is becoming increasingly grave. Despatches from Stalingrad say virtually every citizen, including women and children, is now armed and is participating in the defence. Of the great industries nothing remains within the bare walls of the great tractor factories. The city itself is in ruins Traffic continues on the Volga in spite of constant bombing. No permanent German gains have been reported during the last 48 hours. The Russians west of Stalingrad have actually improved their positions, and in one sector have recaptured fortified points, but the German attack continues in wave after wave. Terrific Tank Attacks

The German tank attacks southwest of Stalingrad yesterday were the biggest yet experienced. Powerful panzer units simultaneously assaulted the three most important sectors. Each attack had a two-hour preparation of concentrated bombing. The Russians held on and no attack succeeded.

A German communique says bitter fighting is continuing in the Stalingrad area. Very strong Russian diversionary attacks in the northern sector of this area failed. The Taman Peninsula is in German hands. A Soviet communique states: On Sunday our troops engaged in fierce fighting north-west and south-west of Stalingrad, and in the regions of Novorossisk and Mozdok There were no important changes elsewhere. A supplement adds that the Russians recaptured several positions north-west of Stalingrad, while in the south-west large enemy tank forces and motorised infantry are attacking without cessation. Here the fighting has become more and more ferocious, with the Russians firmly holding their positions. According to the newspaper Red Star, the Germans have penetrated into the Caucasus range. The enemy is not risking tanks, motor vehicles, and motor cycles in the rough mountain passes. He gets his armour to the foothills, where defences are built, tanks being used as forts and heavy artillery as fire points. Germans. Italians, and Rumanian alpine troops are being used. They scatter over the mountain paths, seizing commanding heights. Behind them come heavilyladen horses with munitions and mountain guns. Behind the rocks of the Caucasus Russians. Georgians. Armenians, and men from Azerbaijan are fighting to the death against the invader. Terek River Engagement A Moscow message says that on Saturday evening a large number of German infantry and 35 tanks crossed thp Terek River and deployed for action, aiming to join a battalion which had crossed the previous day. Soviet artillery, however, cut off the infantry from the tanks and forced a halt. Then artillery and mortars wrecked 15 tanks and forced the remainder to rejoin the infantry. A Russian counter-attack then precipitated a fierce engagement which is still raging.