NAZI BATTERING-RAM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 223, 22 September 1942, Page 5

NAZI BATTERING-RAM

HALTED AT STALINGRAD RUSSIAN FLANK ATTACK AT VORONEJ (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Recd. 7.10 p.m.) London Sept. 20. The tide of German men and machines is still ceaselessly dash* ing against Sialingrad, but the Stockholm correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph reported to-night that powerful and sustained Russian counter-attacks halted the German advance. The Germans made slight gains during the day at enormous cost, but the Russians restored most positions by nightfall. The simile of the battering-ram is now exactly applicable to the tight columns of tanks with which von Bock is pounding away at the stone, brick, concrete and steel of the city’s defence system. Sometimes as many as 100 tanks advanced against street barricades, closely followed by machine-gunners and tommy-gunners. Almost point-blank engagements were reported between Russian artillery and German troops.

"While the battering-rams ham-1 mer away at selected points, hundreds of small hand-to-hand en-; counters are raging elsewhere j along the perimeter of the Axis! arc around Stalingrad, becoming’! thicker and denser as the Ger-1 mans bring- up more heavy guns and mortars. The Moscow correspondent of The Times says the Russians are frequently attacking despite the German num-1 erical superiority, small areas changing hands rapidly on the critical | north-western sector. The Russians) regained an important series of heights on the plateau west of the city. Clearly the issue will be decided by the, will and strength of the participants to endure the respiteless battle, Von Bock is doing his utmost to. forestall Russian regrouping within the city. Conversely, the Russians are using areas still held outside the city to keep out fresh German formations by frequent counter-attack and manoeuvre. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says the Russian flank attack north of the German corridor between the Don and the Volga, north of Stalingrad, flagged during the week-end without achieving great successes. There is evidence now that a more determined effort is being prepared in this area. The correspondent adds that the Russian offensive on a broad front on 1 the upper Don is developing favour- ’ ably. The Russians made new ad-| vances during the week-end despite' German counter-attacks, which were) particularly sharp in the Voronej' area. A four-pronged Russian offensive was launched at Voronej on Septem-J her 16, when several positions were, taken. The northern-most prong by-! passed a dense defensive area. The second prong captured heights west of the Don and made now advances on| the night of September 18 and also on Saturday morning. The advance is continuing through thickly wooded country. Practicaliy the whole front, is active between Voronej and Leningrad, but. there were no new significant developments. The Terek River has developed into a major battle area. The Germans j still hold part of the south bank, but crossings under heavy air and artillery attack in attempts to widen the bridgehead proved costly failures. The Germans lost three passes in the Caucasus, where Russian sharpshooters deeply infiltrated behind the German outposts along mountain trails and forest paths. The Russian lines are holding firm south of Novorossisk. A Moscow report states that “thirtythree men of Stalingrad,” who were acclaimed throughout the Soviet as a model for all troops because of the courage and resolution with which they held up 70 tanks, were decorated amid the smoke and din of battle. A number of officers and men of the group were simultaneously promoted. In the battle for Stalingrad the Germans are using the Messerschmitt 109, which is reported to be designed for stratosphere, says the aeronautical correspondent ot the Daily Mail. It has an operational ceiling of 40,000 feet, where it is invisible from the ground. It is regarded as the enemy’s most: dangerous development in strato- ’ sphere warfare, which has been the' major concern of all belligerents since) the outbreak because fighter supremacy largely depends on height. It was officially announced over a year ago that British lighters were operating at 37,000 feet with 40,000 feet in prospect.

dozen tanks. The Germans then threw the 3rd and 13th tank divisions across a shallow mountain stream and also the 370th and 111th infantry divisions. The Russians completely cut up the 370th infantry division, the 3rd tank | division and a regiment of the 111th. They also inflicted heavy casualties on other enemy units. The Germans ad- ; vanced for seven miles, and were subsequently pushed back. They lost at I least 65 tanks in an attempted break- | through.