TOWARD TUAPSE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 21, 20 October 1942, Page 5

TOWARD TUAPSE

German Penetration LONDON, October 19. In the Mosdok area in the Caucasus a number of fierce enemy assaults yesterday failed to make any headway. The enemy attack toward the Black Sea port of Tuapse has made some progress. After stubborn fighting south-east of Novorossisk the enemy succeeded in breaking through the Russian positions. FRAGILE LIFELINE Volga Pontoon Bridge (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 18. The defenders of Stalingrad are maintaining the Volga crossing in spite of ceaseless fire from German artillery and trench mortars and air attacks, says a Moscow message. At one place 28,000 civilians have already crossed by one pontoon -bridge constructed on benzine barrels. It has also served for the evacuation ed and the conveyance of about 7000 infantry reinforcements. The Germans are trying desperately to sever this fragile lifeline by which Stalingrad is connected with the Russian mainland, and the Luftwaffe has dropped 740 demolition bombs and thousands of incendiaries, but the slight damage caused has been quickly repaired. Ammunition and equipment continue to pour into the city over this precarious line, pitching and tossing amid the explosions of shells, bombs and mines. The “Red Star” says: “In its vitality the Soviet troops are shown a symbol of their own stamina and determination. GUARDS’ LEADER (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 18. Major-General Rodimtsev, the heroic defender of Stalingrad, recently had a narrow escape when an enemy tank nearly broke through to his command, post just over 300 yards from the front line. The tank flat-ironed a bunker housing the headquarters of General Rodimtsev’s division, but the general and his staff were unhurt. General Rodimtsev’s guardsmen are sent to the most dangerous spots in Stalingrad, and more than once they have saved the situation. General Rodimtsev is a 36-year-old graduate of the Kremlin Military School and the Russian Military Academy, and was a pupil of Marshal Shaposhnikov, the present Commander-in-Chief. General Rodimtsev fought as a volunteer against the Germans and the Italians in Spain, and was promoted major-general last year.