MILITARY MIRACLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 227, 26 September 1942, Page 5

MILITARY MIRACLE

SOVIET STAND AT STALINGRAD POSITION GREATLY IMPROVED (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Recd. 8.45 p.m.) London, Sept. 24. The position in the north-western suburbs of Stalingrad has improved out of recognition during the past two days, reports the Daily Express’ correspondent in Moscow. “It is something approaching a military miracle which the whole world should acknowledge with the deepest gratitude,” he adds. The Germans had driven a very dangerous wedge into the north-western suburbs, but much of it has now been hammered out. Meanwhile the Russians are edging southward into the German corridor between the Don and the Volga north of Stalingrad.

No changes are reported in other sectors of the Stalingrad perimeter. Developments during the past few days, however, do not mean that the battle for Stalingrad has yet been decided. The Germans are still hammering away and still bringing up reinforcements from seemingly limbless reserves, as they demonstrated in their massive attacks to-day by 20b tanks in one small sector.

FIERCEST FIGHTING STRUGGLE FOR BIG BUILDING Rugby, Sept. 24. Yesterday saw the fiercest fighting since the Germans first broke into Stalingrad, especially after several German infantry regiments, supported by 200 tanks and aircraft, had plunged deep into the city in face of the strongest resistance. There was a terrific struggle for one ol ifie largest buildings in the city, all approacnes to whicn were held by the Germans. The Red Army broke in, but failed to hold the building, and sent back five men only, who blew up the building, burying all the Germans inside. The Russians also retook, another building, killing 80 Germans. The Russian attack yesterday northwest of Stalingrad was simultaneous in several sectors, and was preceded by heavy air raids and intense artillery fire. Soviet tanks and infantry then crashed through the first line of the German defences and is pressing forward in the face of fierce resistance. A heavy German attack south-west of Novorossisk was repelled, and in a counter-attack the Russians pushed forward slightly. The Red Star, giving an eye-witneSs account of life in Stalingrad, states That, the Volga continues to link the beleaguered city with the rest of Russia, enabling the bringing up of reserves and supplies. Stalingrad itself is described as a gley, smoky city, charred by battle. There are no sate areas, but everyone is used to danger. The majority of the Russian wounded are being paddled across the Volga, as it is impossible to run hospitals in the flaming city Some bakeries and restaurants, however, are still working. —r.o.w.

The Stockholm correspondent of The Times reports that Voronej, Rjev, and Sinyavino are still the centres of unrelaxed heavy fighting. . The Leningrad garrison has apparently made substantial headway in the past few days in an attempt to link up with the main Russian army. Latest German reports mention Neva River crossings and hits on, Russian lorries east of it. This implies that the Russians have established bridgeheads across the Neva. DECISION "no’nEARER TITANIC STRUGGLE FOR MASTERY London. Sept. 24. The German gains at Stalingrad have been offset by the Russian recapture of positions in other parts of the battlefield, and the titanic struggle for mastery seems to he no nearer decision than at the beginning of the week. The Red Star says that the present fighting is the most intense yet, with increasing German ar.ill?ry and air attacks. One Russian tank unit repelled a German attempt to break into Stalingrad from the south. The attack was launched by German heavy tanks, covered by a big air umbrella, with assault troops following up the tanks at the double. Russian tanks broke up the German tank formation and destroyed 34 tanks and eight lorries and killed a large number of shock troops. The front line correspondent, of the Reci Star, vividly describing the Stalingrad holocaust, says that the horizon is covered with a great glare from the burning city. Tongues of flame dance everywhere, and the sky is full of burning ashes. Whole streets have disappeared and debris and shattered German bombers litter the ground.

The Germans are doing their utmost to create a living hell, hut ferry-boats and other craft are still rushing reinforcements and supplies across the river, despite terrific air attacks.