GERMANS’ HEAVY LOSSES

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21835, 16 September 1942, Page 3

GERMANS’ HEAVY LOSSES

TERRIFIC PRESSURE IN RUSSIA OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF ENEMY PLANES FIERCE FIGHTING—REINFORCEMENTS FOR BOTH SIDES (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 16, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY. Srpt. 15 No material prngrr?? during the past 21 linnrs appears to have been pained hv the Bermans in any sector of the Stalingrad front. Pressure is being maintained on the same terrific scale, however, and more and more reinforcements are being thrown in bv both sides. South-west of Stalingrad fighting is taking place in three sectors. In the central sector three night attacks were repelled with heavy losses, but yesterday morning overwhelming numbers of enemy planes bombed the Soviet lines section by section, seeking to reduce to dust everything and everyone, so a= to enable a charge through. The Soviet anti-aircraft fire and fighters, however, succeeded in reducing the effectiveness of the daylight raids somewhat, s 0 that when the ground forces attacked the Russian artillerymen and anti-tank riflemen were able to resist. For an advance of just over a quarter of a mile the Germans lost dozens of tanks and several infantry units. Fierce fighting is raging in the other two - i tors. To the south in one sector fighting for one settlement raged throughout the day. Germans who penetrated in small groups were cleaned up. but later the Germans were able to rerapture and consolidate their position in the western part of the town. The battle continues. In the Mosdok area the Germans have already attacked the new positions to which the Russians were compelled to withdraw after more enemy tanks had been put across the Terek River. The f Germans, however, are reported to have been checked and have sustained heavy losses. Russian tanks are seeking to annihilate a group of German tanks which succeeded in penetrating one locality. In one sector of the central front the enemy was dislodged from one locality.