FRONTAL ATTACK

Evening Star, Issue 24294, 8 September 1942, Page 3

FRONTAL ATTACK

New Assault On Stalingrad Russians Forced To Give Ground (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright . (Received noon.) RUGBY, September i . The latest Russian communique states that an enemy attack on Stalingrad is developing from a new direction to the west of the city. Hitherto the attacks had been from the north-west and the south-west. Heavy engagements are taking place in this new area, the Soviet beating off four '• successive attacks before being forced to give some ground. To the south-west of Stalingrad a number of enemy attacks have been beaten off with heavy losses. Near Novorossisk, which the Germans yesterday claimed to have captured, Soviet troops are engaged with numericallysuperior forces of the enemy, who have succeeded in diiving a wedge into the defences. . Bierce fighting is also taking place about 50 miles from the Grozny oilfields. A serious view is taken in London of the situation at Stalingrad; where another heavy German assault is expected. The morning report from Soviet Headquarters states that in the latest German attack south-west of the city tanks piercec the Russian! lines, but were shelled, and after losing 12 were compelled to retire by Russian tanks. A second attack was repulsed with the loss of two more German tanks and 200 men. North-west of the city the Russians improved their positions, destroying five tanks and killing 250 of the enemy. In another place north-west of the city the Russians destroyed three tanks. At Novorossisk, which the Germans claim to have captured, Soviet marines are holding an important height agams tank attacks. The fall of the port is still not confirmed from Moscow. There is no news of any change m the Mosdok area. Since the fall of Sebastopol Novorossisk has been the best base at the disposal of the Russian Black Sea fleet. The , fleet will' now be based on less well-equipped ports at the east end of the Black Sea; for instance, Batum, 100 miles south of the Caucasus.