M GERMAN SUPPLY LINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 231, 1 October 1942, Page 5

M GERMAN SUPPLY LINES

THREATENED AT STALINGRAD RUSSIANS’ NORTH-WEST DRIVE (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright* (Recd. 9 .45 p.m.) London, Sept. 29. The Germans are attempting to smash down Stalingrad’s resistance before the Russian relief drive from the north assumes decisive proportions. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reported late to-night that the Red Army, continuing the offensive from the nerth-west of the city, had broken through the strong defence lines which the Germans erected a month ago. The advance has enabled the Russians to threaten the supply lines to the German forces attacking Stalingrad. Earlier reports from Moscow stated that the Russian drive

from the north-west had reaeht cutting olf an important German h* Latest reports indicate that Russian advanced units are well below the line between Dubovka and Kaebalinskaya, on which the Germans originally established fortifications. The Moscow correspondent o£ The Times says that Stalingrad’s position grows more critical, but the attack from the north and also the lighting within the Don loop in the Kletskaya area are developing in the Russians’ favour. The Germans claim that the mammoth Red October factory was captured in northern Stalingrad after ferocious hand-to-hand battles, but to-night’s Russian communique says all positions were retained. The Red October factory is Stalingrad’s largest. The workers rejected evacuation proposals and formed themselves into combat units. Earlier in the siege Red October workers manned tanks which they had just repaired, went into action during a critical period and held or the Germans from a ridge until regulars took over. Heavy fighting continues in the Rjev area. It is revealed that the 25 settlements reported as liberated yesterday are clustered close to Rjev, some west of the Volga. The advance enables the Russians to increase their threat to German communications with the Rjev ’ area. They arc now close to a railway which is the mainstay of German communications. The Germans in the Alosdok area kept up pressure in an attempt to reach the Grozny oilfields, from which they are only 50 miles distant. The Russians are taking full advantage of the difficult terrain to ambush panzers. One force of heavy Soviet tanks knocked out 76 German tanks, destroyed 23 guns and 72 troop lorries in ten days. A German war correspondent states that the Russians have transformed the Terek area into one large fortress. Germans on the plains and in the valleys are constantly bombed and also shelled by mountain guns. The Russians claim that 7000 Axis troops were killed south-west of Novorossisk in the past five days. (Recd. 11.50 p.m.) London, Sept. 30. The latest Russian reports emphasise Stalingrad’s increasingly A grave position but suggest no in the furious uefence. The Russia rorcements into the city across the Volga. Tne Russians are attacking southward toward the Don elbow. The Germans, fearing night attacks, are dropping scores of parachute flares, lighting up forward positions of the battlefield. They are constantly counter-a! I continue to nibble forward. This Russian push is most important, regardless of its effect <>n Stalingrad, because it is occupying large German forces which could otherwise be employed in renewed Caucasus thrusts which are now being developed. A German miliary spokesm: . claimed that th< ttie foi has begun. The G rmans suburbs and s in addition to fortified : )sil:on> north of the town. He admit ed that the Russians are putting up a fierce resistance, with warships in the harbour and along 1 ing in land battles. BOMBED Bf RUSSIANS CZECHOSLOVAK TOWNS London, Sept. 28. Russian long-i ly raided the Czt noslovakian of Bratislava. Zilina, Trnava, Tren in. and also Teplich, says the Reuters correspondent on the German frontier. The Russians earlier droppt 1 leaflets in these towns calling for a revolt against the German oppressors and warning that industrial centres and railways would be bombed. The authorities ordered the surrender of the leaflets and threat'- 'd to punish those withholding them.

ed an area below Kaehalinskaya, i bridgehead across the Don. CONTROL OF VOLGA HOW GERMANS WERE FOILED London, Sept. 29. The Germans are trying their utmost to end the deadlock in the tight for Stalingrad by sheer weight of bombs, shells, tanks, and troops. They firmly hold the workers’ settlement in the north-wsst. Violent battles are now raging for the top of a hilly street, capture of which would bring the V olga ferries under German artillery fire. German tommy-gunners yesterday stormed the street leading to the hill, while the main forces crept across the rubble in an attempt to outflank the defenders. Only urgent radio calls to the Volga gunboats saved the situation. Under cover of fire from the gunboats'l he Russians successfully coun-ter-attacked. ’the Germans attacked thrice more, but were beaten off. One cross-street changed hands four times in a nightlong battle and was still in Russian hands this morning, when it contained 355 dead Germans and 18 damaged tanks. Vichy radio declared that the Germans have brought up siege guns to smash the Russian resistance now centred in the Stalingrad factory district. Military circles in Berlin consider that the conquest of the town will be virtually achieved when the factoryarea is occupied, and therefore are concentrating everything against this area. Moscow reports that the Germans are trying frantically and vainly to stem the Russians' advance northwest of the city. The Germans counter-attacked in one place with 100 tanks. The Russians beat back the enemy and knocked out 35 tanks. A powerful German counter-attack at another place resulted in the capture of an important height, but the Russian wedge prevented any German I consolidation of the position. Is vest ia says the Russians are / Ivancing from the north-west, determined to rescue beleaguered

Stalingrad. The Luftwaffe is dropping special inceiutiarieg and also bottles filled with inflammable liquids, setting tire to the brush on the Volga steppes. QUISLINGS REFUSE WANTED FOR RUSSIAN FRONT London, Sept. 28. Germany's effort, to get cannon fodder for a second Russian winter does not seem to be meeting with much success. Even 'members of Quisling's party in Norway arc reported to have held meetings of protest against being rounded up to fight on the Eastern Front. According to one report, 50 of the quislings said flatly that they would not go to fight in Russia, and i they were put into a oncentration • •amp: 273 others who showed similar ideas are also said to have been locked up -