BITTER DEFENCE OF BLACK SEA PORT

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

BITTER DEFENCE OF BLACK SEA PORT

Enemy Held On Terek

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.)

(Received September 6, p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 5. The Soviet headquarters announces: “Our troops were engaged in lighting the enemy north-west and south-west of 'Stalingrad and in the regions of Novorosslsk and Mosdok. There were no important changes in the other sectors.” A .supplementary .report says the Russians stoutly .defended their positions north-west of Stalingrad and in some places fought active operations. The enemy failed in attempts to advance in the south-west. Northwest of (Novorosslsk, the Black sea port, large enemy forces advanced after shelling and bombing, and the Russians were compelled td retreat to new positions. In the Mosdok area, West of the Grozny oilfields, Soviet guards attacked the enemy, who had crossed the river and dislodged, them from one place.

Details of the fighting in the Mosdok area reveal that the Germans got substantial forces across the Terek River and fanned out and captured three inhabited places. The Russians counterattacked on both flanks and recaptured one point and encircled another, killing many troops, destroying pontoons, and hindering reinforcement. The Russians apparently have the situation, in hand at Prokhladnaya. The Germans are attempting to make a drive on Vladikavkaz, in the mountains south-west of Grozny. A big Russian flanking movement threatened to encircle a .large Rumanian force. and’’ compelled’ it to withdraw from an important height. Warships Aid Defence.

The Russian rearguards are fighting bitter delaying actions north-west of Novorossisk, and the Black Sea Fleet is pouring in fire on the Axis forces and helping the outnumbered Russians with marines. The warships shelled two -German infantry regiments and killed 1500 men and wrecked four tanks. When the Russians retook a village half a (mile from the sea 400 of the enemy were killed, in house-to-house fighting.

Planes of the Black Sea Fleet air arm are combating German attempts to land forces from the sea, and Stormoviks routed one force, destroying four motor-driven barges and two cutters.

The Germans are now probably within. 15 miles of Novorossisk.

A German communique yesterday stated that German, troops crossed the Kerch • Strait on September 1 and pierced the Russian coastal defences. Battles are continuing iu the Taman Peninsula.

CENTRE OF BUDAPEST CITY BOMBED Long-Range Attack ('Received 'September 0, 7 p.m.) LONDON, 'September 5. Moscow radio says that Russian planes last night in difficult weather started 33 fires in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, and 24 in Koenigsberg, East Prussia. Thirty raiders participated in the attack on Budapest and 17 heavy bombs fell in the centre of the city. A blackout has been ordered throughout Hungary, and the A.R.P. is being tightened up. One Russian plane was lost. VIENNA ALSO BOMBED, SAY NAZIS (Received September 6, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 5. Berlin radio says that Russian planes last night bombed Vienna, Koenigsberg and Breslau. Budapest also was bombed for the first time from the air by the Russians. [Budapest is just under 1000 uniles from the nearest Soviet aerodrome — at Novorossisk, the menaced Black Sea port. A ehorter-rangc attack could only be made either - from a converted carrier in the Black Sea or by the raiders refuelling in the guerrilla-held part of Yugoslavia. Vienna is 100 miles further distant.!