VOLGA DANGER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 20 October 1942, Page 3

VOLGA DANGER

GERM AN_ ADV ANCE STALINGRAD GAP , SERIES oFaTTACKS STIFF OPPOSITION (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (9 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 19. The Germans are perilously close to the Volga in northern Stalingrad. They have part of the Volga under direct fire, endangering the Russian ferries, says the Moscow correspondent of the Colombia Broadcasting System. German guns are carrying out a duel with Russian field-guns mounted in steel barges which are tewed by motor boats. These small ships swarm close to the shore in surprise night attacks. The Russians call them “river tanks.” The Luft.waffe is again making mass raids on Stalingrad. The Germans are relentlessly pounding the city in an attempt to pulverise the remaining defences. The Germans to-day threw in a third infantry division into the gap gouged on Friday by the capture of the workers’ settlement in the northern outskirts of Stalingrad, says the Moscow correspondent of the Daily Express. The Germans have made 23 attacks since Friday night, all of which were repulsed; The twentyninth is now in progress. The Germans claim to have reached the bank of the Volga in three places. This is untrue, but it must be recognised that they are not far from the river. The most notable of all the defending units is the Guards Infantry commanded by General Rodimtsev. They crossed the Volga in pontoons and boats on September 27 and went straight into battle. They have been fighting without pause for 21 days.’ They went over to the offensive on Saturday and held a new German thrust and forced the Germans to fall back on one sector. Situation Not Deteriorated The Times Moscow correspondent says that the Germans, after driving a narrow salient into northern Stalingrad are now attempting to drive north and south from the salient parallel to the Volga. They are making some progress in the southern drive where a critical situation developed Until a Russian flank attack restored the situation. Russian reports indicate that the situation has not deteriorated in the past 24 hours, but the Germans are clearly in a strong position and have the river crossings under mortar and artillery fire. The Russians have reinforced the Volga flotilla, even shabby old ferry-boats and slow woodburning craft being mobilised. The Russian resistance in the Red Barricade settlement is stiffening, reports the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent in Stockholm. The latest dispatches show that the defenders retain their positions despite six night attacks. There is not the slightest confirmation of the German High Command claim that the whole factory has been taken. Russian troops .are resisting fiercely in the Spartakova district, horthwards of the recaptured Dzherzhinskj tractor works, despite the fact that their line of communication southward has been cut and that Stukas are blocking the retreat to the Volga. These units, at great sacrifice, are holding up large forces which could otherwise be thrown against the Russian positions in the centre of the city. Heavy German Losses The Times’ correspondent in Moscow states that the Russian operations north-west of Stalingrad are still of a local character. The Germdn defences are strong and deep. Small groups of Russians are gnawing their wav forward. Each day brings slight but significent successes. The Rome radio claims that the area of Russian resistance at Stalingrad is 1J square miles. The defenders are surrounded and practically cut off from the Volga. A Stockholm report states that the German offensive continues in the Leningrad area, with heavy losses, notably of Italian-built planes piloted bv Finns. . The German losses at Stalingrad and in the Caucasus include at least 12 divisions smashed, besides thousands of tanks and planes, according 'to a Moscow message. Soviet headquarters states that in the area of Stalingrad fierce fighting continued. In one sector the enemy infantry and tanks attacked the Russian positions and at the price of huge losses occupied one block. Several hundred of the enemy were killed and 18 German tanks destroyed. Russian pilots shot down nine aircraft and anti-aircraft batteries shot down five. North-west of Stalingrad, Russian troops waged fighting of local importance. Artillery dispersed enemy infantry preparing to attack. On another part of the same front three attacks were repußsed. In the area of Mosdok, enemy attacks were repulsed. Soviet marines made a landing behind the enemy lines on the Black Sea, inflicted losses, and returned safely.