GRAVE TURN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1942, Page 3

GRAVE TURN

IN DRAMA OF BATTLE FOR STALINGRAD BUT GERMAN PROGRESS SLOW. SUPREME EFFORT ASKED OF RED ARMY. I By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 9. The Stalingrad drama is taking a grave turn as the Germans edge toward the city from the west. They are striving to deepen their wedge along the Don-Volga Canal, which leaves the Don about 10 miles south of Kalach, and enters the Volga about 10 miles south of Stalingrad. The Germans are also progressing north of the canal across the open, unwooded steppe. It is testimony to the Russians that] Field-Marshal von Bock’s present terrific concentration of planes, tanks, guns, and men —perhaps the greatest in military history—is averaging only slightly more than 10 miles a day. The Germans are employing every device of modern war —dive-bombers, fighter-bombers, heavy bombers, and cannon and machine-gun-firing fighters; field artillery, mortars, ranging up to the newest giant hurling one-ton projectiles, and flames-throwers; and the usual fearful panoply of tanks, armoured machine-gun and light can-non-carriers, and armoured troop-car-riers from' which emerge tommy-gun-ners and grenadiers, with masses of conventional infantry following up. The Red Army has been called upon for a supreme effort, and extensive minefields confront the enemy. Grenadiers, machine-gun detachments, and two-man anti-tank rifle teams bar the path of the Axis, supported by concentrations of Russian field and anti-air-craft artillery—a rock on which many German waves have broken before Stalingrad. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says it is a sign of von Bock's respect for the Red Army that he did not previously i itack from the west till he had embarrassed the Russians north and south of the present line of attack. He would not risk running into a sack, because the bear’s hug cf the type felt before Moscow is something to avoid in future. The third day of the new German drive finds the defence still checking the main advance, though withdrawing slowly as the Luftwaffe blasts a way 'for the ground forces, which are maintaining a rapid tempo of attacks by the constant throwing in of reserves, which now include Italians and Rumanians. Thrf enemy is still firmly held southwest Jof Stalingrad, though his pressure is increasing. SOVIET PRESS CONFIDENT. The whole tone of the Soviet Press shows growing confidence in the Red Army’s ability to save Stalingrad. The Russians are working ceaselessly to improve the deep network of trenches, minefields, and pillboxes west of Stalingrad, and they have built up a vast “hedgehog” of guns and mortars. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Zurich correspondent says that in spite of intensive German air reconnaissance the Russians have secretly reinforced Stalingrad. A Wilhelmstrasse spokes-

man declared, “We do not know even whence came the Russians who have relieved Stalingrad. They are absolutely fresh and well-equipped divisions, so they could not have been withdrawn from the Rzhev area.” The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says the Germans northwest of Stalingrad are probably still in a precarious position. The latest German reports stated that they were in grave danger in the weekend. Mobile Germah units had struck rapidly from the Don toward the Volga, but Russian armoured units closed in, after which the German spearhead was attacked from all sides. Eventually, a convoy smashed through with badly-needed ammunition for the encircled force.