AT ANY PRICE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 7

AT ANY PRICE

All-Out Bid For Stalingrad

FLOWER OF ARMY EMPLOYED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. Sept. - 4, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 3. While waves of bombers blast Stalingrad, 200 German tanks, assisted by a swarm of Stukas and fighters and supported by several divisions of fresh infantry, are hammering incessantly against the Russian defences south-west of the city. The German High Command is determined to break through the Russian lines in this sector whatever the cost, and is constantly bringing up fresh reserves.

The defenders heavily counter-attacked, and threw back the Germans at one point, but the monstrous tide of men and metal is still creeping onward.

The situation is very confused northwest of the city. Th© Germans have been unable to penetrate the main defence lines and have thrust rapidly to the Volga, which was apparently reached in the vicinity of Dubrozka, where the Volga is five miles wide. The Germans hold a narrow corridor between the Don and Volga, in which- they are being subjected to attacks from all sides, but they are greatly aided by the superiority in the air, which they have established throughout the Stalingrad area. The Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: "Remembering the frightful disaster which overtook them before Moscow last winter, the Germans are in a terrible hurry to seize Stalingrad for winter quarters before the muddy season sets in. “Most Decisive Battle?”

“They know the mud will bog and slow down the tanks, waterlog aerodromes, and reduce the infantry attacks to a snail’s pace. With appalling winds from the icy deserts of Central Asia, the winter in the naked' steppes round Stalingrad, though rather shorter, is far harder than round Moscow, and there is no other large town in the enemy’s (possession for hundreds of miles, “They have (brought up the flower of the army for the supreme assault, and the Russians know that here and now they must fight what, in long-range strategy, is perhaps the most decisive battle so far. It is one of the world’s greatest delaying actions. “The Russian fighter sorties have greatly increased, but the Red Air Force is still overweighted. The Russian tank force is heavily outnumbered, but it shows that it knows its task by its brave surprise flank attacks and spoiling tactics. The Russian artillery is still superior to the German, and the mortar work is almost as good.” More than a million Germans are reported to be in the operations on the Stalingrad front. ' Nazi Manpower Problem. The Moscow “Izvestia” says: “The lighting south-west of Stalingrad is of terrific ferocity, and the Germans are sustaining colossal losses, but they are still pushing on furiously.” The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says Rumanians and Hungarians, with whom are mixed conscribed Poles and Serbs, are reported to be among the reserves in action south-west of Stalingrad, and von Bock is apparently drawing German troops from distant fronts. The defenders are making prodigious efforts to cut the infantry off from the tanks. The Germans are exerting violent •fforts in an attempt to capture Novorossfek, and north-west of the port are striving to link up with a force north •f Novoi'ossisk, while another force i* trying to strike through the Caueasus to cut the road to the south. This force was defeated in a three-day batHe. Violent skirmishes continue for the passes and heights. The Germans have again failed to ■ cross the Terek River, where they are timing to reach Grozny!, and some German alpine troops are trapped in narrow valleys in this area. A Moscow message says that Russian marines, who are fighting south as well as west of Krasnodar, routed the sth Rumanian Cavalry Division, and crush i ugly defeated the 9th Cavalry’Division, which was sent to re-

place them. Bitter fighting continues. The Vichy news agency declares that the Germans landed important forces in the Gelendzhik sector, south-east of Novorosslsk, which linked up with the Germans and Rumanians advancing

south of Krymsk, and that Novorossisk is now practically surrounded. Germans also landed near Mikhailovsk, about 12 miles south of Tuapse. The Germans east of the Grozny oilfields, Vichy says, have advanced from the Terek River toward Makhach Kala, and reached a point 47 miles from the Caspian Sea. Moscow reports that heavy fighting is going on in the Mazdok area of the Caucasus. The Germans fought hard for hours trying to cross the River Terek. A group of tommy-gunners got across, but Russians wiped them out. Russian artillery, also wiped out armoured units which attempted to force a crossing. Attacks From Leningrad.

The Stockholm correspondent of "The Times” says hand-to-hand lighting continues in the Kaluga, Medyn and Viazma sectors. The Russians have gained ground in the Lake Ilmen area, and continue to initiate attacks in the Shlusselburg, Neva River, Lake Ladoga and Tosna River sectors. The Finns report strong Soviet attacks over the whole Karelian Isthmus. Moscow reports say the Baltic Fleet’s air arm has heavily damaged enemyoccupied towns, ports, and railway stations.

A Soviet communique states that Russian troops were engaged in fierce fighting north-west and south-west of Stalingrad and north-west of Novorossisk. There were no important changes in other sectors. AMERICAN TROOPS Reported Offer And Reply LONDON, September 3. A correspondent of the United Press at Washington, quoting Congressional sources, says that Russia declined an offer by the United States to send American troops to reinforce the Soviet army. Russia said she had sufficient manpower and believed that the shipping would be better employed in Carrying armaments. Congressman A. J. May said he thought the rejection of the offer was a demonstration of Russia's great courage and her determination to fight to a finish. “The United States,” he added, “should match Russia’s stand with a supreme effort to send all possible material.”