VALUABLE WEEKS

Evening Star, Issue 24326, 15 October 1942, Page 5

VALUABLE WEEKS

GAINED AT STALINGRAD GERMANS' STRIKING POWER WEAKENED LONXK)N, October 13. Signs are accumulating that the Russians are beginning to reap the fruits pf Stalingrad’s heroic defence, in which they have destroyed much of the German striking power and deducted _ in--valuahle weeks from Hitler’s campaigning season. It is now almost two months since the Germans began to develop a pincer movement against Stalingrad from the north-west and from Kotelnikovo. Tho Germans are now bombing the Grozny oilfields with incendiaries, which is a sign that they consider they are unable to capture them at present. "Winter snows are appearing in the Caucasus, while 'Berlin reports that torrential autumn rains have set ,in on all Russian fronts, transforming the roads into mud tracks, on which motorised movement is most difficult. ENEMY’S DIFFICULTIES. The Stockholm correspondent of‘ The Times ’ says the latest news indicates that the Gormans are preparing for what they believe or hope is the really final assault against Stalingrad, which remains a threatening bridgehead against the German winter line. jf Stalingrad is eventually eliminated, it is questionable now whether the Germans could undertake the prodigious task originally intended of jpressing 200 miles down the Volga to Astrakhan to secure their winter flank. The Berlin radio describes the 1 Stalingrad operations as the repulse of Rusr sian attempts to break out of the iron pincers in which the Germans have gripped the city. The radio adds that Russian reinforcements are constantly arriving at Stalingrad across the Volga, indicating that more attacks can be expected. The . Berlin" spokesman announces that the chief activity is German raids, ’"especially opposite ; Moscow, to- ascertain Russian intentions. This new tone runs through" most of the official and unofficial German reports, admitting in effect that , the time has come for ■j the Russians to take the initiative generally. MECHANISED BATTLES. Ji.fr i The * Moscow'correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that the operations northw r est of Stalingrad, between the Don and the Volga, and further to the , west, appear to have resolved into a series of rapidly-moving battles of mechanised units between the respective entrenched lines. The Russians are gradually moving their lines forward. The Russians. . the correspondent • adds, are actively reconnoitring south of Voronezh. Strong forces crossed the Don and took up positions on the right bank. COMMUNIST PARTY'S PLEDGE STALINGRAD TD BE DEFENDED AT ANY GBIT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, October 14. At a plenary meeting of the Stalingrad Communist Party held in the city M. Chuyanov, chairman of the City De- , fence Council, reported on the situation., The meeting appealed to all Communists to strengthen further the city’s defences, and gave a pledge to-defend Stalingrad at any cost and to rout the enemy. The meeting praised the work of Communists at the tractor plant, also at “ Red October ” and “ barricades ” factories, as well as railway and water transport workers. The Russians in the Northern Caucasus are reported to be making extensive use of armoured trains in co-ordi-nation with the cavalry, infantry, and air'force. In one battle an armoured train, along with cavalry, killed 1,300 Germans. In another engagement two trains killed 1,400. The Russians report that the Germans are using a new type of plane, the Henschel 129, with two engines. Its functions correspond with those of the Stormovik, It is armed with a 30-milH-metre automatic cannon and two machine guns. Only the cockpit is armoured. The remainder of the plane is vulnerable, even to small arms fire from the ground. Its speed is approximately 280 miles an hour. It carries 350 kilograms of bombs. SUPPLIES FOR RUSSIA BRITAIN FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 14. The Foreign Under-Secretary (Mr R. K. Law) replied in the affirmative when asked in the House of Commons if Britain had maintained the supplies agreed upon to Russia. He added that all possible steps Would be taken to speed (up delivery. He did not think the losses of our* ships carrying munitions could be regarded as failure on our part to fulfil our obligations, though he was not prepared to say off-hand whether the Government was under any formal obligation to replace such losses. FRANCE PAYS GERMANY (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 14. • The indemnity payable by France to Germany during the first half of 1942 was £315,000',000, according to a statement in the House of Commons by Mr Dingle Foot. Of this probably £IOO,000,000 was spent on the upkeep of Germany’s army.of occupation.