SMALL MOBILE ACTIONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 2

SMALL MOBILE ACTIONS

OPERATIQNS AT STALINGRAD. BATTLE FOR TUAPSE ACCESS. The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press describes the fighting north west of Stalingrad as trench warfare, with encircling movements by smaller mobile units. The Russians' latest advance in this sector was made after intensive artillery preparation. The Russia.ns then drove a wedge through a gap between two hills They turned the German holding troops from their defensive positions and consolidated on the heights. The struggle which began a fortnight ago is still raging for the main mountain pass from Kuban to Tuapae, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. A 13-hour tank battle ensued after the Germans made a night attack under a smoke-screen. The Russians turned back this thrust, but the Germans are still attacking. Vichy radio claims that the Russians lost 5000 to 10,000 men on the road to Tuapse, and that a further 4000 were taken prisoners. Heavy fighting is reported from the Sinyavino area, where the Russians beac back an infantry regiment and 30 tanks, killed 600 men and destroyed 13 tanks. Reports from Stalingrad mention intensificatibn of German terror raids. Lengths of railway tracks riddled with small holes are being dropped from 5000 feet, producing prblonged ear--splitting howls. The Luftwaffe is also using screech whistles and screaming bombs. Izvestia says that I'talian tanks were recently in action at Stalingrad. The Russians found that their armour was easily pierced. Pravda reports that a great tractor works at Stalingrad is still in production. Most of the equipment of the works has been transferred east of the Volga, but sufficient was retained to produce some tanks and effect major tank repairs. The Moscow correspondent of The Times says it has been revealed that the defence of the north Russian coast, including Murmansk, Arehangel and the Rybachi Peninsula, and also the north submarine fleet, are under a 3 6 -year- oi d Cossack, Vice-Admiral Golovko.