VOLGA GAINED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20917, 17 October 1942, Page 5

VOLGA GAINED

CLAIM IN BERLIN STALINGRAD AREA RED RELIEF ADVANCES CITY WITHIN SIGHT {By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (3 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 15. A German High Command communique -described the fighting this morning -around three big factories in Stalingrad and the Berlin radio later claimed that German troops had taken the Dwerzhinsky tractor factory by storm and reached the Volga on a two-mile front. The Vichy radio a week ago claimed that the factory had been completely razed. Moscow despatches repeat that Marshal Timoshenko’s relief troops driving from the north can already see Stalingrad, “and not with strong field glasses either.” The Russians drive from Kachalinskaya is heaviest on the right wing near the Don. The Germans claim further advances in the western Caucasus, but Berlin - admits that the Axis daily gains can be seen only on special large-scale, maps. A more serious situation has developed in the Mosdok area, where the Germans are increasing the pressure. Several divisions simultaneously managed to penetrate the Russian .positions with Tommy-gunners, “in addition to tanks. A senes of big battles is raging. The Russians on the southern fringe of this area are continuing aggressive operations and yesterday improved their positions for the second successive day. The Germans, according to the Red Star, are maintaining fierce attacks in .northern Stalingrad while bringing up new forces, by land and air. - The Russians withstood all the attacks and have knocked out 23 tanks in the last 24 hours. The Paris radio stated that advanced German forces, after penetrating several points of the inner defences, contacted the Russians in the suburbs of Tuapse. • - A German communique states that German and Slovak troops in the Caucasus penetrated the Russian positions in mountainous terrain and captured more than 500 strong-points. Bitter fighting in the Terek sector . resulted in the Russians oeing thrown back. German infantry forces in Stalingrad broke the resistance of the Russians and penetrated deeply into the northern town tarea.