HITLER STAKES EVERYTHING

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 5

HITLER STAKES EVERYTHING

Battle Of Stalingrad

LONDON, September 4,

The clangour of battle can now be plainly heard in Stalingrad, in intervals between the Luftwaffe’s attacks against the city itself. All Russian and neutral reports agree upon the frightful price FieldMarshal von Bock is being called on to pay for every advance, but the German commander is hur-ling in a seemingly. endless number of reserves in a prodigal determination to smash a way into the city by sheer weight of men and metal. But for the example of Kiev, Sebastopol, and Leningrad it would seem that the fall of Stalingrad must be expected within a few days at the outside. Moscow concedes Salingrad’s serious danger, but refuses to admit that its fate is already sealed, and the men of the Red Army are exhorted to show the same resolution in defence of the gateway to the Caspian and the heart of the Volga as did their fathers in the civil war. The “Red Star” declares that Stalingrad can be held and calls on the defenders to make it a "Red Verdun.” It is being said in German militaryquarters that the war in the East was virtually over when German troops established themselves on the Volga,' because the German High Command set the Volga as the goal .to be reached before the winter. Recent Progress. The Stockholm correspondent of "The Times” says that though the outer defence zone of Stalingrad has been penetrated at many places, the Germans do not yet feel safe enough to bring up their artillery. The Stockholm correspondent of tho “Daily Telegraph” reports tonight that von Bock’s armies have reached the Volga both north and south of Stalingrad, and that heavy German siege guns are pumping high-explosive shells into the ruined and flaming city. The correspondent says that 'panzers pierced the defending fortifications anti successfully stormed fortified heights overlooking the Volga six miles south of Stalingrad. A correspondent, broadcasting from Moscow, declared that the battle for Stalingrad has become the greatest armed clash the world has known. German prisoners have stated th ft the Luftwaffe requisitioned reinforcements from Germany, France, Egypt, and Sicily for the air attack on Stalingrad. The “Red Star” says that von Bock is using 25 divisions and 1000 planes in the north-western drive alone. Great Nazi Gamble. The view taken in London is that tho Germans are staking the success of the whole of their 1942 campaign on the capture of Stalingrad (says British Official Wireless). The Russians are recognized to be desperately hard pressed. • By concentrating an enormous mass of troops and equipment in front of a broad river, and with very limited lines of communication behind it, they run tho risk of being trapped. But to break through remains a formidable proposition for the Germans. Stalingrad may yet prove to be a second Moscow or Leningrad for them. SHARING BURDEN OF FIGHTING Soviet Envoy’s Message (Received September 6,10.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 5.

The Soviet Ambassador, M. Maisky, in a message to 40 international youth rallies throughout Britain, said, “The forces of Germany and her satellites are not so overwhelming as many people are inclined to think, but they are well organized and recklessly used. “The United Nations’ forces are-far stronger, but not so well organized, ns a result of which they are unable to use the most deadly weapon against Germany—a war on two fronts. “So far Russia has borne the main burden of the struggle, but she expects that before long her allies will bear a more equal burden.” GERMANY’S CASUALTIES SO FAR (Received September 0, 10.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 5. Reports which have been received from sources inside Germany estimate that 4,200,000 Germans were killed or permanently put out of action on the Russian front up to August 1. It is added that the German losses have risen sharply since then. The German news agency reports that Lieutenant-General Rottau, commander of an infantry division, was killed at Rzhev, while Berlin newspapers carry the announcement of the death on the Russian front of Corporal Thyssen, a grandson of the former steel_ magnate.