CHECKED IN CAUCASUS

Evening Star, Issue 24324, 13 October 1942, Page 3

CHECKED IN CAUCASUS

Nazi Timetable Upset Fresh Divisions Brought Up Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (E«c. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. The comparative lull in ground operations at Stalingrad which is not expected to last—has coincided with a renewal of bitter fighting in the iNJosdok and Novorossisk areas, where the Russians are achieving some successes. Air and artillery activity is undiminished at Stalingrad, and the lull probably indicates a preparation for a heavier land battle for the city. ‘ Prayda ’ says; “Stalingrad may be razed to the ground, but it will not be taken. The German divisions flung against the city are still melting away like sugar in boiling water.” Russian marines occupying a dominating hill half a mile from the city’s outskirts were mentioned fo-day for the first time since last month. They have been holding out for more than a month against daily German tank assaults and punishing aerial bombardments. •The Russians are claiming that their Caucasus successes are again affecting the German time-table, and Soviet observers are, linking the ground lull at Stalingrad with the necessity for a German diversion of fresh divisions to the Caucasus, instead of to Stalingrad. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says at least one ■ enemy division intended for Stalingrad was switched to Mosdok, where it is already in action. One Rumanian division from Kerch was on its way to Mosdok when the Russian activity in the Novorossisk area necessitated its transfer to that sector, where two Rumanian cavalry divisions have been badly cut up.