RELIEF OF STALINGRAD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 5

RELIEF OF STALINGRAD

SUCCESS OF RUSSIAN DRIVE HILL RECAPTURED FROM NAZIS (By Telegraph—Frew Awociation—Copyright) (Reed. 10.35 p.m.) London, Oct. 11. The Russians had a further success in the relief drive northwest of Stalingrad. The Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Express reports that the Russians recaptured a hill which formed a wedge m their lines and advanced 500 yards. The Germans have not launched a single attack on Stalingrad in the past 24 hours, but reinforcements have been brought up for a fresh onslaught. The German panzers and infantry before Stalingrad are still licking their wounds. Both sides are confining their activity to artillery duels and bombing, and the Russians are taking advantage of the lull to con-

solidate their positions. • The weakening of the enemy's! aggression is ascribed by the News Chronicle correspondent iiij Moscow to sheer exhaustion. He isrecalls the recent Nazi declaration -that no more infantry would be .thrown in before Stalingrad and that the destruction would be .completed by the Luftwaffe and /artillery. The Russian newspaper Red Star emphasises that the enemy has lost severely in front-line troops. It supsports the corresDondent’s view that this decision was forced on the Germans. The newspaper adds, how•iever, that the enemy has not given up the idea of capturing Stalingrad, and ‘is bringing up fresh reserves in preparation for a new onslaught. Forty miles north-west of Stalin‘grade Soviet troops have again moved ,forward, and some Germans who crossed the Don have been driven -back. In the Caucasus heavy fighting is reported in the Novorossisk area and north-east of Tuapse. Russian troops have surrounded an important height I and broken into a village held by the: Germans. The enemy is still trying to recover his lost positions south-east of Lenin-1 grad and heavy fighting continues, i Military ski-mg is oeing organised! throughout the Soviet as soon as snow falls. Ski teams are being formed in factories, offices, schools, and military camps. Teams will 'unc ?r ;o route marches and make lof cross-country runs and will recel instruction in the military asp sof ski-mg. (Recd. 7.5 p.m.) Rugby. Oct. 12. “Our ships in the Baltic sank five enemy transports, totalling 16,001) tons/’ says to-night’s Russian communique, and adds that 123 German 'planes were destroyed in the past week for the loss of 78 Russian. The communique reports artillery duels on the Stalingrad front during the day. Enemy tanks and infantry were not very active. . North-west’ of Stalingrad local engagements occurred. Seventy-live German bombers escorted by lighters, attempted to raid Soviet military objectives in the Mosdok area, but 26 enemy planes were -destroyed. Ru. ian troops surrounded an enemy garrison in one localitv in the region of Novorossisk.—B O W. E *;EMY CASUALTIES STATEMENT TO CALM THE PEOPLE Rugby .Oct. 11. The Germans, despite their re- ! cent statement. are still using infantry in the assault on Stalin- ; - grad. The statement is considered j to have been necessary to calm , the minds of the German people, as there is little doubt that the Germans at last are beginning to feel a draught in the matter of casualties. The Germans are pressing the Rus-I sians in the Mosdok area and also. 'south-east of Novorossisk. but in both ! the Russians are fighting back i strongly. They describe the Mosdok > operations as defensive. In two days’ fighting south-east of 1 Novorossisk one Red Army unit re-I pellet 12 enemy attacks and annihi- t fated two enemy battalions. Regarding the Caucasus fighting in general, the opinion in London is that it is now probably too late for the Germans to get across the Caucasus range by the two available roads before the winter sets in. Military experts point out that the snowfall 'Which has already occurred in the higher passes must necessitate the withdrawal of the units which climbed to the higher levels. If the Germans are to reach Baku and Batum they will have to make a way along the coast. —8.0.W. GERMANS WORSTED , USE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN AS COVER Rugby. Oct. 11. The unbelievably inhuman practice; of driving women and children in ' of their attacking troops wasi employed yesterday by the Germans— | and not for the first time—in th c ir endeavour to gain headway on the Stalingrad front. A Soviet communique which discloses this adds that a Russian unit was quickly rushed to • the German flank, attacked, and in- ■ flicted heavy casualties on the Ger-; mans, and freed the women and chil-1 dren. —8.0.W.