GERMAN COUNTER-BLOWS

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21910, 14 December 1942, Page 3

GERMAN COUNTER-BLOWS

RUSSIANS FIGHTING HARD (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 14. noon) LONDON, Dec. 13 Colonel Vassiliev, the Russian military commentator, said: “The Germans south-west of Stalingrad are counter-attacking increasingly. The enemy has strengthened his defences considerably and is digging in in some sectors with a large number of tanks.” The situation is similar on the north-west Stalingrad front and the central front. The Russians had to fight hard to check six German coun-ter-attacks north-west of Stalingrad. The Germans are also counter-at-tacking without pause at main points of the central front, and where the Russians are advancing it is only by degrees. General Zhukoff has thrown in powerful forces for a new push southwards from Rjev. The Germans are repeatedly counter-attacking eastwards of Veliki Luki. Reports from most sectors indicate that the Russian progress is slowing up, although the Germans are not, actually regaining ground. General Rodimstev’s men inside Stalingrad city keep knawing at the enemy’s strongholds. They captured 200 blockhouses last week and smashed up 18 pillboxes in the past 24 hours.