NEW GERMAN THRUST

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 245, 17 October 1942, Page 5

NEW GERMAN THRUST

SIGNIFICANCE OF BATTLE. CONCENTRATED BOMBING.

B.O.W.

RUGBY, Oct. 16.. v

The latest German assault on Stalingrad opened with an intensive bombing of the Soviet positions, according to a Moscow message. On the north side of the city from the front line back to the Volga crossings the Germans had made 1500 individual flights by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in a sector just over a mile wide and a few miles deep. The enemy flew in waves of 30 to 40 planes without cessation and so low that the defending ground forces alone shot down 16. C oncentrations of tanks also advanced into the same deep, narrow sector with new tanks ever taking the pliaces of those wrecked and burned. After 39 enemy tanks had been knocked out the Russians counterattacked with their own tanks. The enemy's numerical advantage in armour and manpower, however, along with his overwhelming air superiority, enabled him to advance in a number of sectors. The significance attached to the present situation is indicated by the Red Star, which says: "This is a decisive battle for Stalingrad. We must hold the city at any cost. There must be more stamina, stubbornness and skill of manoeuvre, and we shall repel the new fierce enemy

attacks. The Germans are launching desperate assaults in their effort to capture Stalingrad. The proximity of winter is driving them on. The German High Command is replenishmg its divisions incessantly and hurling reinforcements into the battle straight from the march." In the Soviet offensive north-west of Stalingrad the Red Army captured several trench lines and some prisoners. The German counterattacks were ineffective. In the Mosdok area several German attacks supported by tanks were repelled. Soviet armoured trains are taking an effective part in the fighting. In the Caucasus foothills a German alpine regiment was dislodged from a dominating height and routed. South-east of Novorossisk superior enemy forces succeeded in taking one height, but Soviet infantry counter-attacked. supported by mortar fire, and recaptured the position and took some pyisoners.