DESPERATE ENEMY THRUSTS

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

DESPERATE ENEMY THRUSTS

TROOPS FROM DISTANT FRONTS STRUGGLE TO REACH BLACK SEA LONDON. September 4. The Moscow newspaper ‘ Izvestia ’ says that the fighting south-west of Stalingrad is of terrific ferocity. The Germans are suffering colossal losses, but are still pushing on furiously. The Germans claim to have reached the western suburbs of the city, but there is no confirmation of this. The Moscow correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that Rumanians and Hungarians, with whom are mixed conscripted Poles and Serbs, are reported to •be among the reserves in action south-west of Stalingrad. Field-Marshal von Bock i« apparently drawing German troops from distant fronts. The defenders arc making prodigious efforts to cut the infantry off' from the tanks. The Germans are exerting violent efforts in the attempt to capture Novorossisk, the Russian naval base on the Black Sea, The Germans to the northwest of the base are striving to link up with tho force north of Novorossisk. Another force is trying to strike through the Caucasus to cut the road to the south of Novorossisk. This force was defeated in a three-day battle. Violent skirmishes continue for passes and heights, . , The Germans again failed to cross the Terek River’in their attempt to reach Grozny, Some German alpine troops were trapped in the narrow valleys of this area. Tho Stockholm correspondent of * The Times ’ says that hand-to-hand fighting continues on tho Kaluga and Vyazma sectors The Russians have gained ground in the Lake Ilmen area and continue to ■ initiate attacks in the Schlusselberg, Neva River, Lake Ladoga, and Tosna River sectors. The Finns report strong Soviet attacks over the whole of tho Karelian Isthmus. Moscow reports say that tho Baltic fleet’s air arm heavily damaged enemyoccupied towns, ports, and railway stations. ON ULSTER BORDER POLICE ACTIVITY LONDON, September 4. The police interrogated about 200 persons outside Belfast, There is much activity along the border, where all vehicles are examined and people have to produce their identity cards. _ More charges concerning the possession of firearms are pending against men whose homes were searched. The Belfast police in several cases had to chase men who ran from their homes. Two policemen were injured when I.tR.A. time bombs exploded early this morning outside the Raudalstown police barracks in County Antrim, seriously damaging the front of the building and putting the telephone lines out of action. WOMEN IN WAR INDUSTRIES GniTAIIi'S GOOD RECORD ; (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 4. Since June, 1939, there has been an increase in the number of women in munitions and certain _essential industries and services of 1.750,000, according to the Director-General of Man Power and the Ministry of Labour. Out of a population of 33,000,000 of working age (between 11 and 00) over 22.000.000 are engaged in some form of national service of war employment. However, there is still a shortage of mobile women, and the registration ol those above the age of 45 may be required.