RUSSIANS YIELD SOME GROUND WEST OF STALINGRAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1942, Page 3

RUSSIANS YIELD SOME GROUND WEST OF STALINGRAD

But Strong Defence Maintained NO ENEMY PROGRESS SOUTH-WEST OF CITY SOVIET PLANES BOMB BERLIN & BUDAPEST LONDON, September 10. The Russians have taken up new defence positions west of Stalingrad. The German pressure is still intense. About Stalingrad the most critical fighting is on the western approaches to the city. The Russians are fighting back from new positions to which they withdrew when a wedge was driven into the lines yesterday and two important points had to be given up. The Russians are attacking vigorously the point and flanks of the enemy wedge. A German High Command broadcast reported strong Russian counter-attacks, preceded by heavy artillery preparation. They were immediately followed up by a German counter-thrust. The Russians are fiercely resisting in a few of a large number of strongly fortified pill-boxes. Heavy Russian attacks have been launched from the north, outside the outer defence ring of Stalingrad. South-west of the city the position has not altered. The Germans have not made progress, though attacks continue regardless of casualties. In the Western Caucasus fighting is reported round Novorossisk and within the city itself. In the Eastern Caucasus - enemy progress towards Grozny is slow. The Moscow radio announces that Soviet bombers last night raided Budapest, Berlin, Konigsberg and other towns in Eastern Germany. A number of fires were started in each city. All except two planes returned. The Germans deny that any bombs were dropped on Berlin itself. A Swedish correspondent says Berlin had a small-scale raid.