CAUCASIAN CITY THREATENED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 7

CAUCASIAN CITY THREATENED

Claim In Axis Reports BATTLES. RAGING FQR EVERY INCH (Received November G, 9.30 p.m.} LONDON, November 5. Axis reports say that the Germans are within 13 miles of Viadlkidzel, the capital of the Ingushekidgej, the capital of the Ingushetian and North Ossetian areas of the Caucasus. Soviet artiUery is putting down a tremendous barrage which is playing a big part in holding up the advance. Vichy radio says that Vladikavkaz is now only supplyable from the Grozny area, which itself is threatened. The Luftkaffe has -started the systematic ■bombing of the outer defences of Vladikavkaz and the town itself in preparation for an assault, the radio added. German armoured units and "infantry, striking east from Alagirskaya, yesterday occupied part of the Georgian highway. Reports to Moscow, however, record no German progress, in this area in the past 24 hones. Russian reports, nevertheless, emphasize the strength of the ceaseless German attacks to the east, south and south-east of the Nalchik area, where, as hi the Mosdok area, the Germans are concentrating big tank groups with massive air support against the narrow sectors. The official Army organ, “Red Star,” states that battles are raging for every inch of the ground. Drive ou Oilfields.

The Germans have renewed their direct drive on the oilfields from the Mozdok area, but have so far met with no success. The Russians repulsed a heavy attack and then launched a counter-attack and captured a German strongpoint In the western Caucasus the attempted enemy drive, on. the Black Sea port of Tuapse is still being held up in the mountains north-east, of the town. In many sectors of this front Soviet forces have taken the initiative and are inflicting heavy losses on the enemy troops in the mountains. Northeast of Tuapse an enemy group has been surrounded. Moscow reports that the Germans are now bringing up reserves and enemy planes are dropping as many as 309 bombs a day on the Russian positions in efforts to slow down the Soviet counter-attacks. -Specially heavy losses were inflicted on the 10th German Mountain-Division, most of whose 10,000 casualties in Russia have been suffered in the Caucasus. Moscow refers to the German method of concentrating tanks in narrow sectors on the Nalchik front supported oy masses of aircraft, adding that the Soviet air force has received reinforcements. Russian pilots are not only challenging the Germans in the air but pounding the enemy columns. The enemy advance south-eastward from Nalchik is being stubbornly contested by ‘the Russians, who are some 200 miles away. North-east of Tuapse the Russians themselves are advancing and inflicting heavy losses. ,