HARD FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1942, Page 4

HARD FIGHTING

AT NOVOROSSISK & WEST OF STALINGRAD ■- I INTRODUCTION OF RUSSIAN RESERVES. GERMANS DISCONCERTED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, September 10. Details of fighting in the vicinity of Novorossisk show that the Germans cut deep wedges in the defence positions from two directions. Then the two columns joined up, attempting to break through into the city. The Red Army coun-ter-attacked, however, split the foreer. and completely encircled one column. The Germans succeeded in fighting their way out of the north-west suburbs, where the Russians are seeking to wipe out a whole column before it can be reinforced. The fiercest fighting appears to be taking place west of Stalingrad, where the Germans launched another strong frontal attack and the Russians occupied new lines after severe fighting. The Germans manifestly are disconcerted by the Russian resistance. A Berlin spokesman stated that no turning point had been reached in the battle. The Russians were suddenly able to counter-attack in considerable strengtn and the German High Command has been unable to discover whence came these complete, fresh divisions. Consequently on this development, the spokesman foreshadows a longer siege than was expected. LOCAL LOSSES ADMITTED BY THE SOVIET. LONDON, September 10. A Soviet communique reports fierce engagements west and south-west of Stalingrad, also at Mozdok and street fighting in Novorossisk. A supplement to the communique makes it clear that the Germans have driven another wedge into Stalingrad’s defences. The Russians have evacuated three populated places. South-west of Stalingrad Russian forces repelled enemy tanks and dispersed a large concentration of artillery. FIRST COLD RAINS SWEEPING STALINGRAD BATTLEFIELD. GENERAL ATTACK LAUNCHED BY GERMANS. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 10. According to a Berlin radio announcement tonight, German troops are now fighting inside Stalingrad’s inner defence belt. A Despatch from Moscow reports that the first cold rains of autumn.are sweeping the Stalingrad battlefield. The Germans are launching a general attack in all sectors, with even greatter tank units. The rains ended the intense heat which has accompanied bloody battles. They presage winter and conditions which will hamper the German mechanised forces. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says that after the Germans launched' a general attack against Stalingrad yesterday morning a very big battle developed due west of the city. The Russians there were forced to abandon two villages. The Germans attacked throughout the day, supported by waves of planes which came down against the Russian positions in groups of six or eight. The Germans are launching attacks across thousands of corpses littering the front. The Russians in the past 48 hours have wiped out several German regiments and. also a SS battalion. The “Red Star” reports that Russian pressure against strips of German-oc-cupied territory south of the Terek River has driven back the Germans in some places to the water’s edge. The Russians in other places have encircled German groups and are battling to exterminate them. The Russians, in destroying several new German crossings of the Terek River, killed many hundreds. The Viclw news agency declared that German columns moving along the north bank of the Terek River have reached Naurskaya, threatening the Russian right wing in the Mosdok area.