NO NAZI LET-UP

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 30, 30 October 1942, Page 5

NO NAZI LET-UP

Race Against Weather in South Russia STALINGRAD GAINS CALLED NEGLIGIBLE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 29, 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. . General von Hoth is ceaselessly attacking the factory area in Stalingrad, and is rushing up reserves against the tired but determined defenders. The Luftwaffe has been ordered to make a final all-out effort before rain puts the landing fields out of action. The Germans overran two streets, but at the cost of 1 000 men. American commentator says that the Germans seem to be willing to pay any price for a break-through, but their gains in the past 24 hours have been negligible.

The relief armies north and south of Stalingrad are maintaining their set procedure. Both armies, . aftei breaching the German lines, dig in and wait for the inevitable counter-attack. When that is repelled they again advance and bite another piece from the German defence system. Marshal Timoshenko’s tactics of sharp, regular strokes north and south of the city, are winning ground steadily. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says the attention which commentators in Berlin are giving to the Russian southward drive toward Stalingrad implies anxiety and the fact that the Germans are at the moment on the defensive. The “News Chronicle’ correspondent in Moscow describes the enemy’s losses north-west of Stalingrad as tremendous. Seven thousand enemy troops were destroyed in two days, together with 100 guns, 57 tanks, and 26jlanes. Struggle in Caucasus. Reports from the Caucasus front indicate a shift to the Russian advantage in the Novorossisk area,-where the chief operations are now described as east of the town instead of south-east. Both sides claim slight successes to the north-east of Tuapse. The German High Command in a statement said that deep snow_ in the central Caucasus is rendering operations impossible. A big battle is raging north-east of Tuapse, where the Germans are doing their utmost to encircle the port in preparation for its reduction and the elimination of the stubborn Russian forces between Novorossisk and Tuapse. Both sides report gains on this front. A Soviet news agency dispatch states that the Russians, in a counter-attack, forced the Germans to withdraw from hill positions which had been recently captured in the drive toward Tuapse. A German communique says that the Germans south-east of Novorossisk,

Ullt'l MDIRUI. Ullje we j <=>» captured a commanding range of heights. They also captured a strongly fortified and stubbornly defended mountain position east of Tuapse. South-west of Mosdok. LONDON, October 29. The Soviet overnight communique stated: “The Russians yesterday waged battles in the areas of Stalingrad, north-east of Tuapse, and the region of Nalchik (55 miles south-west of Mosdok, in the Caucasus foothills). In a factory area at Stalingrad the Russians repelled repeated German attacks, and the enemy pushed forward in one sector only about 220 yards. An enemy group penetrated the southwestern outskirts of one factory, but this group was Completely anihilated.” The midday communique says that last night the enemy maintained his attacks in Stalingrad, but all were beaten off.

STALINGRAD WILL NOT FALL

Ambassador’s Prediction

WASHINGTON, October 28. The Russians will retain Stalingrad. The Germans will not get the Grozny or Baku oilfields this winter. This opinion was expressed by Admiral Standley, the Ambassador to Russia who returned here for consultations. H e added that Russia would fight to the bitter end. • An informant with first-hand knowledge of events in Russia told the Press that XI. Stalin was satisfied that the United States military operations in the Pacigc had forced Japan to postpone her attack against Siberia. He emphasized that the Russian people did not regard the present offensive in Egypt, even if successful, as fulfilment of the second front pledge.