HEROIC DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 24293, 7 September 1942, Page 3

HEROIC DEFENCE

RESEMBLES " MOSCOW MIRACLE " HEAVY DRAIN ON ENEMY RESERVES LONDON, Sept. 6. ‘‘Something resembling the miracle of Moscow is being repeated this weekend at Stalingrad/’ says one correspondent describing the heroic defence of the great Volga city. The latest despatches do not bear out the earlier impression that the fate of the city was sealed, for no new,German advance is reported either from the north-west or south-west. To the north-west enemy assaults .were beaten back with heavy loss. Around Kletskaya the (Russians are still attacking. _ Authoritative estimates say that Field-Marshal von Bock has at least 1,000,000 men at his disposal, and though the Russians are outnumbered by two to.one, they are beating back attack after ' attack, and defending every house.

The Germans are reported- to be receiving reinforcements from all parts of the Continent. The position, however, remains grave, and the enemy is keeping up his pressure on all sectors. In Stalingrad itself every citizen is armed and is prepared to take part in the defence or the city.

NAZI LOSSES IN RUSSIA. Reports received from sources inside Germany estimate that 4,200,000 Germans had been killed or permanently put out of action on the Russian front up to August 1, and add that the German losses have risen sharply since then. USE OF FLAME-THROWERS ARMOURED GRENADIERS ALSO THROWN IN (Roc. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. The Vichy 'radio stated that both panzers and infantry were using flamethrowers in the Stalingrad battle. Another feature of the attack is the employment of armoured grenadiers consisting of shock troops in specially-built anndured cars, each capable of carrying a considerable number of troops. They were brought in to force natural obstacles and establish bridgeheads. PRODIGAL DETERMINATION GERMANS PAYING FEARFUL PRICE LONDON, September 5. All Russian and neutral reports agree upon the frightful price von Bock has been called on to pay for every advance, but the German commander is hurling in a seemingly end>less number of reserves in prodigal determination to smash bis way into the city by sheer weight of men and metal.

Moscow concedes Stalingrad’s serious danger, but refuses to admit that its fate is already sealed. Members of the Red Amy have been exhorted to show the same resolution in defence of the gateway to the Caspian and the heart of the Volga as did their fathers in the Civil War. The ‘ Red Star ’ declares that Stalingrad can be held. It is being said in German military quarters that the war in the east will be virtually over when German troops are established on the Volga, because the German High Command sot the Volga as the goal to be reached before the winter.

Tho Stockholm correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that although Stalingrad’s outer defence zone has been penetrated in many places, the Germans do not yet feel safe enough to bring up artillery. Other competent observers emphasise that recent German advances have been on individual sectors, and nowhere have the main enemy forces been able generally to advance. The Stockholm correspondent of the ‘ Daily Telegraph,’ however, to-night reports that von Bock’s armies reached the Volga, both to the north and the south of Stalingrad, and heavy Gorman sitge guns are pumping high explosive into the ruined, flaming city. The correspondent says that panzers pierced the Krasnoarmeisk fortifications and successfully stormed the fortified heights overlooking the Volga six miles south of Stalingrad. Berlin reports that the Russians are counter-attacking the Germans on the

Volga north of the city, but say that all attacks have been beaten off. There are no important changes on other parts of the Russian front, although the fighting in many sectors is fierce. The German news agency reports that Lieutenant-general Rottau, commander of an infantry division, was killed at Rjev, while Berlin newspapers carry tho announcement of the death on the Russian front of Corporal Thyssen, a grandson of the former steel magnate. RUSSIA'S GREAT BURDEN _ LONDON, September 5. The Soviet Ambassador, M. Maisky, in a message to 40 international youth rallies throughout Great Britain, said: “ The forces of Germany and her satellites are not so overwhelming as many are inclined to think, but they are well organised, and are being "recklessly used. The United Nations’ forces are far stronger, but not so well organised, as a result of which they are unable to use the most deadly weapon against Germany—war on two fronts. So far Russia has borne the main burden of the struggle, but she expects that before long the Allies will bear a more equal burden.’?