BATTLE FOR STALINGRAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25017, 10 September 1942, Page 5

BATTLE FOR STALINGRAD

FLUCTUATING FORTUNES /

ENEMY’S DESPERATE THRUSTS

#r (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8. Fortunes are ifiuctuating every hour in the mighty battle for Stalingrad as Marshal von Bock suddenly switches his mechanised battering-rams from point to point, hoping to find a soft spot for a break-through. Sometimes the battering-rams are each heavily barbed with tanks and dive-bombers and achieve a measure of success, only to be forced back as the Russians throw in reserves. The latest reports from Berlin and Moscow illustrate the rapidity with which the complex picture changes. The Berlin radio, broadcasting a High Command statement, claimed a break-through yesterday on five miles of the front, where the Axis advance is continuing. Within an hour the Moscow correspondent of The Times reported that the Russians had the situation under control, all enemy attempts during the past 24 hours having failed. This thrust from the north-west followed the failure of a direct frontal attack from the west, which in turn followed a vain attempt to drive a spear into Stalingrad’s tough hide from the south-west and the north-west. The Berlin radio’s war correspondent said: “ The Germans had to change their plans when they realised that heavy fortifications barred the frontal attack. The change involved the shifting of thousands of motor vehicles, necessitating a prodigious expenditure of petrol.” The Russians are holding the initiative in the north-west, where their activities during the past two days give ground for the hope that they plan a heavy stroke against von Bock’s flanks, in conjunction with renewed pressure from Kletskaya and the Khoper River areas in accordance with the strategy of reserving the heaviest counter-blow for the moment when the enemy’s effort is at its peak. ' Novorossisk remains an enigma. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says the impression gained from Russian and German accounts is that the Axis holds the major part of the naval base and is steadily increasing the area under its control. The defenders are outnumbered by five to one, but are supported by Red Fleet bombardments. The Germans are apparently slowly progressing towards Grozny by means of infiltration. German tanks engaged two armoured trains in this area, but withdrew after losing 18, tanks.

FIERCE FIGHTING

FIRM RUSSIAN DEFENCE RETREAT AT ONE POINT (Rec. 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 9. To-night’s Russian communique reports fighting west and south-west of Stalingrad, as well as in the areas of Novorossisk and Mosdok. A supplement adds: “At a narrow point west of Stalingrad, the Germans launched a tank attack, and though checked by artillery fire, they brought up new reserves of tanks and infantry supported by the Luftwaffe. After stubborn fighting the Soviet troops retreated to a ndw defence line. South-west of Stalingrad the enemy tried to by-pass Soviet positions, but were repelled, and Soviet tanks dealt an effective counterblow. “In the region of Novorossisk there was stubborn fighting with enemy tanks and infantry, who have driven a wedge into the Soviet position: !A German automatic rifle group who attacked a bakery from the rear, were annihilated by a Soviet machine-gun unit. In attempts to establish a bridgehead across a river in the Mosdok area the Germans continue to suffer very heavy casualties, and still appear to have failed to consolidate themselves on the southern bank.”

More villages have been captured by the Russians west of Moscow. Reports from the rest of the stretch between the Don and the Neva are the same as for months past: “ Heavy local actions, with the Russians usually taking the initiative.” It is one drawnout battle of attrition in swamps and forests.