HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

Southland Times, Issue 24860, 28 September 1942, Page 5

HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

BATTLE NORTH-WEST OF STALINGRAD (8.0.W.) RUGBY, September 26. The Russian morning communique refers briefly to fighting last night in the areas of Stalingrad, Mozdok and Sanyaveno, and records no important changes in these areas or on other sectors. In Stalingrad itself street fighting continues, states the supplement, while north-west of the city where the Russians have for some days been striking at the German left flank, several enemy counterattacks have been repelled with heavy loss and the capture of booty. New armoured forces have joined in the battle, according to a Moscow Press message. High-speed motor-boats are coursing along the Volga engaging ■ German tanks and artillery at short range. These river tanks are also employed to protect crossings against the ; Luftwaffe and against trench mortars i trying to cripple the Soviet transport of supplies and reinforcements and the evacuation of wounded. The Volga, is ; bristling with guns on monitors, reinforcing the Russian long-range artillery. FIGHTING AT VORONEJ South-east of Novorossisk a Soviet Marine unit wiped out a Rumanian infantry battalion. Moscow radio records 1 a success on the front north of Voronej, ; where on one sector the Russians pushed forward and penetrated the ’ forest. At many points on the Voronej front, including the western bank of ' the Don south of the city, the Germans j are constantly and unsuccessfully 1 counter-attacking. There are indications that Stalingrad’s most critical days may have ' passed. Major Zhuravlev, writing in The Mosoow News, says that the Russians are gradually gaining the initiative in the city and that German air sorties over Stalingrad are now less than half as numerous as they were a fortnight ago. Reports reaching the British United . Press correspondent in Stockholm . suggest that, switching their attention : to the Caucasus, the Germans intend to ■ leave the attackers at Stalingrad to hold their own and to gradually reduce ; the city to an unimportant bridge-head. ’ The fighting for Stalingrad, however, ■ is still furious. The Soviet News • Agency, Tass, says that 25,000‘Germans ■ have been killed on the Stalingrad front I in the past week. J M. MAISKY HONOURED ; (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 26. i Leningrad radio announced that M. Ivan Maisky, Ambassador to Britain, i

had been awarded the Order of Lenin for outstanding services to the Soviet Uniop. The occasion of the award is the tenth anniversary of his ambassadorship to Britain.