HELD ON ALL FRONTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 14, 12 October 1942, Page 5

HELD ON ALL FRONTS

Nazi Attacks In Russia TIMOSHENKO’S MEN PUSH ON

(Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.— -Copyright.) (Received October 11, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 10. The Germans are held up on all the main Russian fronts and north-west of Stalingrad Marshal Timoshenko’s forces have again advanced. , , , .... . Crack Russian shock troops in a powerful attack dislodged the Germans from an operational base south of Stalingrad, says Moscow radio Taking advantage of a moment when the Germans and Rumanians were exhausted after several days’ ceaseless attacks the Russians advanced bodily and captured the base after bitter hand-to-hand lighting. The Russians attacking the German left flank north-west of Stalingrad captured another important height. ® .. _i._ .1 ... 1.,.C0V,

The “Izvestia” says the Germans have concentrated several fresh infantry divisions and tank divisions against north-western Stalingrad. More than 80 attacks in the last four days achieved only minor success. The Germans in one sector of Stalingrad penetrated the defences and captured streets, but were finally pushed back after losing a company of infantry and nine tanks. More 'than 100 truckloads ot supplies, as well as troops, are ferried nightly across the Volga to Stalingrad. German batteries constantly shell the ferries, but the boats keep crossing regardless of the risks. The crossing takes half an hour. Moscow radio reports that the Russians south-east of Novorossisk, supported by artillery and bombers, are making determined counter-attacks. A Finnish communique states that the Russians are violently, attacking ou the Karelian Isthmus and Aunus front.

Attack In Caucasus.

The Russians have launched a determined attack in the Caucasian foothills for a three-peaked mountain which the Germans have fortified. Russian guns are storming strongholds, while Soviet alpine troops are slowly mounting to the summit. Cossacks and Black Sea marines are firmly holding the Rumanians southeastward of Novorossisk. The Germans further penetrated the land of the Kalmyks. Kalmyk herdsmen and fishermen today met at Astrakhan and pledged themselves to resist to the end the new threat to the Russian left flank. The Germans have not made any progress in the Mosdok region or eastward along the Terek River. Big enemy reinforcements are arriving at Rzhev, via the Viazma railway, to a point 'within three miles of the city. The reinforcements are reported to include criminals, who are promised a pardon if they fight well. The Stalingrad and Mosdok areas are mentioned in last nights Soiiet communique. It states that at Stalingrad the Soviet troops repelling the enemy counter-attacks are improving their positions, and are smashing the enemy defence. In one sector an enemy attack was repelled, and more than 200 Germans were killed. An hour later the Germans again attacked, supported by tanks and planes. The Soviet artillery crippled five German tanks, destroyed five heavy machineguns, and wiped out 400 of the enemy. On another sector forty German automatic riflemen approached a position with a white flag. The Soviet troops stopped firing, 'but the Germans, when they approached the position, opened fire with their automatic rifles. All forty automatic riflemen were killed. Big German Effort. The, Germans are still straining every effort to try to stem the Soviet advance north-west of Stalingrad, and are bringing up panzer forces and infantry divisions in massed- attacks. Their dive-bombers are also intensely active, and one Russian unit claimed that 21 plaues were destroyed in fourteen days. Fighting is particularly fierce for a large building commanding several city blocks. After changing hands three times, the building is now ■firmly in Soviet hands. The latest reports from the Mosdok front state that the German Viking ■SS division and other reinforcements, supported by 100 tanks, made an attack earlier in the week and suffered heavy casualties, including 1000 killed. A special Russian communique refutes a statement by the German High Command a few days ago that German troops had surrounded and annihilated south of Lake Ladoga seven Soviet divisions, capturing 12,370 troops and much material. This statement, says the communique, is an absolute lie. Neither south of Lake Ladoga, nor in any other place have the Germans surrounded a Soviet division, or even a Soviet regiment. On the other hand 60,000 Germans have been killed, wounded or captured south of Lake Ladoga. The aim of these offensive operations was to divert German forces from Stalingrad, and this purpose was achieved, while the Russians captured a' number of key defence points which are now firmly held. The Russian losses in killed, wounded and. missing were 21,384. German Policy Unchanged. LONDON, October 9.

Numerous reports give the lie to the Berlin spokesman’s Ted herring last night claiming that.it is not necessary to send in further infantry against Stalingrad. ' Messages from Moscow emphasize that the German policy of throwing in a stream of reinforcements is _ unchanged, and has even been intensified, and "that they are keeping the battle at as high a pitch as ever. A Moscow correspondent says that the Germans are keeping up, the same murderous pace, but that the Red Army’s resistance has not weakened. Tlie Tass (Russian) news agency, quoting front-line dispatches, says: “The momentum of the German onslaught is continually increasing, and the Germans are constantly bringing in fresh tank and infantry forces. The position seems to have become slightly worse for the Russians in the northwestern suburbs, where the Germans gained two more streets, but they have now been checked. The German attack in the southern part of the city is firmly held.” The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says that the Russians in the factory area of Stalingrad, having regrblipcd and consolidated after a .short withdrawal, were only just able to stop a German attempt to break through to the Volga, and split the Russian army. "The fact tiiat the Russians had to do this on the second day in succession,” he says, "indicates tlie precariousness of Hie position.” The Russians hold a prominent height some miles from Stalingrad, from which, long-range howitzers are pounding the German positions. Timoshenko’s Progress. Marshal Timoshenko's relieving armies, though'most strongly resisted, have made progress and have answered tlie enemy’s incessant attacks by coun-ter-charges. The Germans hurled greatly superior forces against the troops under General Rodimtser, fore- | ing him on the defensive, but by frequent counter-drives the Russian gen-

eral exacted a heavy toll, killing several thousand Germans in the last two days. The Russian defenders south of the city repelled an attack by 54 tanks which tried to drive a wedge from twosides. The Red Army is reported to be continuing its'slow advance north-west of Stalingrad, in the face of stiff resistance and repeated counter-attacks. There was specially fierce fighting for heights, each of which was a German strongpoint. In the battle for one height the Germans lost eight tanks but did not recapture the height. The Russians counter-attacked south-east of Novorossisk and improved their positions. The Germans are withdrawing the (badly mauled Rumanians and replacing them with German troops, in an effort to push forward. The battle in the Mosdok area is said by Moscow to have flared tip afresh. The Germans attacked in three sectors,- in one of which seven attacks of gradually mounting power were repulsed. The last onslaught was specially violent. The Russians, bringing up reserves of men -and tanks, counter-attacked and improved the own positions. A counter-attack also improved the situation in a neighbouring sector, where long-range artillery and aircraft destroyed the majority of 20 tanks. This enabled Soviet infantry to charge. , . South of Mosdok 50 enemy tanks, supporting infantry in the *<. sector, were repulsed. Reserves Drawn Off.

The Swedish newspaper "Svenska Dagbladet” quotes a. report that Marshal Timoshenko’s northern relief arm has at last forced the Germans to draw off reserves from Stalingrad, and adds that if the report is confirmed it means that the Germans no longer have sufficient reserves to feed botli the assault against the Stalingrad area and the left flank defences, which would explain the sudden purported change of tactics announced by the Berlin spokesman. A 'bitter wind which has suddenly begun from the steppes around 'Stalingrad is fanning the flames of the burn* 111*” city. The Russians took advantage of the first twinge of _ biting weather by dropping leaflets in the German lines reminding the attackers that 300,000 Germans were frozen to death last winter. ’ A .Stockholm report states that General von List replaced Bock in Command of the German armies on the south Russian front (Bock was reported to have been seen in Berlin in civilian clothes, and was supposed to have been dismissed after differences with Hitler). . According to the “Isvestia, the Germans are sustaining enormous losses on the Voronezh front. One (Russian unit, in a four-day battle, killed a large number ot officers and men, and destroyed many guns, mortars, and tanks. Midget Bombers. Improvised Russian midget night bombers which the Russians describe as flying motor-cycles and the Germans as Russian match-boxes, have . .been used with good effect* on the Stalingrad front. A Moscow correspondent describes these as an improved type of transport plane which was used some 15 years ago, known as the U2. Built of plywood- and canvas, they have a speed of 60 to 90 miles an hour. ’ They are used only at night, and are capable of great bombing accuracy.- They can pick out a single house held by the Germans and bomb it, whereas the German, heavy, bombers would be forced to. regard an entire area as a target at night. • They have been nicknamed -by the Russians 'because they sound like motor-cycles going uphill over a bad road. The Russian machines are specially good at throwing bombs into ravines where German troops shelter for the night. When the Germans realised the low speed of the “motor-cycles,” it is said that their A.A. fire improved, but now the Russian pilots ride over the target -with their engines cut off. One of the best features of the bombers is their ability to land at low speed in the dark. They need only two small lamps as a flarepath, so the German bombers cannot detect their airfields and bomb them. The Germans are* unloading siege guns day and night, says a Moscow news agency message, in preparation to storm again, before the coming winter, heights which are the key point of the Leningrad defences. The defenders use the nickname “Magnet Mountain” for’the heights, because they have attracted much metal. Ai\'r a year’s 'bombardment shells and shell fragments around the ruined observatory are as thick as cobble-stones.

NO MORE POLITICAL COMMISSARS

(Received October 11, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 10.

The posts of political war commissars with the Red Army have been abolished by M. Stalin in a decree creating the single military command of units, reports the Moscow radio. The unit commanders will handle both, political iffid military matters. Political commissars who have gained useful experience of modern warfare will be appointed to command units.