STALINGRAD LULL

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 2

STALINGRAD LULL

SWITCH TO CAUCASUS RITTER FIGHTING OCCURRING. HEAVIER ASSAULTS EXPECTED.

P.A. Gable.

LONDON, Oct. 12.

The comparative lull in ground operations at Stalingrad — which is not expected to last— has coincided with an upsurge of bitter fighting in the Mosdok and Novorossisk areas, where the Russians are achieving some successes. Air and artillery activity is undiminished at Stalingrad and the lull probably indicates preparation for a heavier land battle for the city. Pravda says that 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 again mentioned to-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 timetable and Soviet observers are linking the ground iull at Stalingrad with the necessity for the German diversion of fresh divisions to the Caucasus instead of to Stalingrad. Reuter's Moscow correspondent says that at least one enemy division intended for Stalingrad has been 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 were badly cut up.

RUSSIANS WREST INITIATIVE. The Russians in the Caucasus have generally wrested the initiative from the Germans. They are holding up all German thrusts against the approaches to the Grozzny oilfields. The Russians are not only sallying out against German columns, but improving their defences in case the re - inforced enemy manages to break through in any sector. The Russians on other fronts continue to decimate the German ranks. Persistent fighting continues around Sinyavino, south-east of Leningrad, where the Russians are consolidating their grip on recently-won positions. The Russians in numerous sectors of the Kalinin front north-west of Moscow are fighting locally important engagements. The Germans in one place drove back the Russians, but lost their gaihs before night, losing 600 killed. Moscow radio declared that the Russians eaptured an important height in the Karelian forest on Finnish front, killing 1500 of the enemy. A German communique states that the Germans. annihilated a Russian unit encircled 011 the road to Tuapse and also smashed the bulk of a Russian Guards' Division and part of a Rifle Division after hard mountain fighting. According to Vichy radio the Germans are continuing to drive to Tuapse where they mopped up most areas of resistance. Reconnaissance units are already in action on the road leading to the Black Sea. _v