OUTNUMBERED THREE TO ONE

Evening Star, Issue 24292, 5 September 1942, Page 5

OUTNUMBERED THREE TO ONE

WAVES OF NAZIS FLUNG AT CITY (Rec. 11.55 September 4. ‘ Bed Star ' says that with von Bock uting 25 “divisions and~l7OoO planes in hi* north-western drive against Stalingrad, tie incessant fighting has reached unprecedented violence. German advance# yesterday north-west of Stalingrad were achieved by forces of double and sometimes treble superiority to the Russians. The weary defenders are also facing numerically superior forces, which are attacking in continuous waves south-west of the city. la the Eastern Caucasus the Germans have started a new drive against Grozny from the Mosdok area, where, after a week of attempts, the Germans forced a crossing of the Terek River under cover of darkness. The Russians are launching vigorous counter-attacks. One of> the German groups, which crossed, _ a battalion ‘strong, started digging in, but were driven back across the river. Many i perished in the torrent. The battle is going on with another group on the southern bank of the river. The Germans are desperately trying to establish other bridgeheads. , Heavy fighting is developing west of Krasnodar and, north-west of Novorossiak. The Cossack Guards, under Lieu-tenant-general Birichenko, in the past 10 days have destroyed 50 tanks. 10 heavy artillery batteries, and more than 5,000 Germans. The Cossacks in a 90-minute action advanced four miles, and dispersed and sabred 2.000 Axis infantrymen. A German communique states that German troops crossed the Kerch Straits on September 1 and pierced the Russian coastal defences. Battles are continuing on the Taman Peninsula. RACE AGAINST TIME GERMANS DREAD THE WINTER LONDON, September 4. The Moscow correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says: “Remembering the frightful disaster which overtook them before Moscow last winter, the Germans are in a terrible hurry to • seize Stalingrad for winter quarters before the muddy season sets in. They know that the mud will bog and slow down tanks, waterlog aerodromes, and reduce infantry attacks to a snail’s pace. With appalling winds from the icy deserts of Central Asia, winter in the naked steppes around Stalingrad, although rather shorter, is far harder than around Moscow. There is no other large town in the enemy’s possession for hundreds of miles. They have brought up the flower of their army for a supreme assault. “ The Russians know,” the correspondent adds, “ that hero and now they must fight what in long-range strategy is perhaps the most decisive battle so .far. In ‘ one of the world’s greatest delaying actions, Russian fighter sorties have greatly increased, but the Red,Air Force is still overweighted. The Russian tank force is heavily outnumbered, but it makes brave surprise flank attacks and carries oat spoiling tactics. Russian artillery is still superior to the German, and the mortar work is almost as good.” BRITISH CHILDREN ABROAD (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 4. The Children’s Overseas Reception Board states that there is no truth in the recent statement that British children sent to the dominions and the United States by the board or by the American Committee for the IJvacuation of European Childreu are being brought back to Britain.