STOP PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 24330, 20 October 1942, Page 6

STOP PRESS

ASSAULT ON STALINGRAD. 'LONDON, October 19. Reports from Moscow to-day suggest that the Germans have the upper hand in the Stalingrad area, at least temporarily, although there i- s costly lighting ahead before the German army can make good Hitler’s boast that Stalingrad will be taken. The renewed German assault against North Stalingrad is now in its sixth day, and if the Russians have suffered what 1 The Times ’ Moscow correspondent describes as ‘‘the most merciless and persistent air bombing the war has known. - ' The Luftwaffe without iuteruptiou is attacking a narrow sector, using SV.V, planes of all typos and making at least a thousand sorties daily and sometimes sixteen hundred. Reports form Berlin say tho Russians are massing for a renewed drive between the Don and the Volga, north-west of Stalingrad to which Russian troops, tanks, and artillery are continually moving up. Berlin is also continually emphasising the major dimensions of Russian movements in the Toropets area. The Luftwaffe for a fortnight has maintained round-the-clock attacks against Russian troop deployments in the whole region between Toropets and Kalinin, where a largescale Russian offensive can be expected. Renter’s Moscow correspondent says the Germans, in capturing one block of buildings in Stalingrad, lust -10 tanks and about 5.000 killed in 24 ours. SOLOMONS BATTLE. MAS KINGTON; Oct. ID.—The Navy Department announced; On October IS 20 enemy bombers, escorted by 20 Zero lighters, attacked our positions at Guadalcanal; Our Grumnuui-Wildeats intercepted them and shot down eight enemy bombers and II Zeros. Two of unr fighters are missing.