KEY CITY AT STAKE

Southland Times, Issue 24841, 5 September 1942, Page 5

KEY CITY AT STAKE

ALL-OUT BID FOR STALINGRAD (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 3. While waves of bombers blast Stalingrad 200 German tanks, assisted by a swarm of Stukas and fighters and supported by several divisions of fresh infantry, are hammering incessantly against the Russian defences south-west of the city. The German High Command is determined to break through the Russian lines on this sector whatever the cost and is constantly bringing up fresh reserves. The defenders heavily . counter-attacked and threw back the Germans at one point, but the monstrous tide of men and metal is still creeping forward. The situation is very confused to the north-west of the city. The Germans have been unable to penetrate the main defence lines and thrust rapidly to the Volga. However, they have apparently reached the Volga in the vicinity of Dubrovka, where the Volga is five miles wide. The Germans hold the narrow corridor between the Don and the. Volga, in which they are subject to attacks from all sides, but are greatly aided by the air superiority which they have established throughout the Stalingrad area. The Moscow correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that remembering the frightful disaster which overtook them before Moscow last winter the Germans are in a terrible hurry to seize Stalingrad for winter quarters before the muddy season sets in. They know that the mud will bog and slow down their tanks, waterlog aerodromes and reduce infantry attacks to a snail’s pace. With the appalling winds from the icy deserts of Central Asia winter in the naked steppes around Stalingrad, although rather shorter, is far harder than around Moscow. There is no other large town in the enemy’s possession for hundreds of miles. They have brought up the flower of their Army for the supreme assault. The Russians know that here and now they must fight what in longrange strategy is perhaps their most decisive battle so far. It is one of the world’s greatest delaying actions. Russian fighter sorties have greatly increased, but the Red Air Force is still overweighted. The Russian tank force is heavily outnumbered, but shows it knows its task by brave surprise flank attacks and spoiling tactics. _ The Russian artillery is still superior to the German and the Russian mortar work is almost as good. The Russian Army newspaper, Red Star, reports that the Russians have recaptured an important point controlling the road from the Don to Stalingrad and situated on a branch railway line. The Germans lost three companies in this fight. Overwhelmingly superior _ enemy forces are attacking the Russians by land and sea north-west of Novorossick. Although suffering heavy losses the Germans continue to press on against stubborn Russian delaying action. However, reports admit that the Germans have achieved gains in an important sector where the Russians have withdrawn slightly. Red Star says the Germans have concentrated so much weight here . that the mounting, scale of battles has inflicted terrible losses on both sides. TERRIFIC ENEMY LOSSES The Moscow newspaper Izvestia says the fighting south-west of Stalingrad is of terrific ferocity. The Germans are suffering colossal losses, but are still pushing on furiously. The Moscow correspondent of The Times says Rumanians and Hungarians, with whom are mixed conscripted Poles and Serbs, are reported to be among the reserves in action southwest of Stalingrad. Field Marshal von Bock is apparently drawing German troops from distant fronts. The de-

fenders are making prodigious efforts to cut infantry off from tanks. The Germans are exerting violent efforts in an attempt to capture Novorossisk, the Black Sea port. The Germans northwest of there are striving to link up with a force north of Novorossisk. Another force is trying to strike through the Caucasus to cut the road south of Novorossisk. This force was defeated in a three-day battle. Violent skirmishes continue for the passes and heights. The Germans again failed to cross the Terek river, where they are aiming to reach Grozny. Some German alpine troops are trapped in narrow valleys in this area. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says hand-to-hand fighting continues in the Kaluga, Medyn and Viazma sectors. The Russians gained ground in the Lake Ilmen area and continue to initiate attacks in the Shlusselburg, Neva river, Lake Ladoga and Tosna river sectors. The Finns report strong Soviet attacks over the whole of the Karelian Isthmus. Moscow reports say the Baltic Fleet’s air arm heavily damaged enemy-occupied towns, ports and railway stations.