BANKS UNDER FIRE

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 247, 20 October 1942, Page 5

BANKS UNDER FIRE

BATTLE FOR FACTORY RED BARRICADE HOLDS ON SACRIFICIAL HEROISM.

P.A. Cable.

LONDON, Oct. 19.

Russian resistance in the Red Barricade settlement is stiffening, reports the Daily Telegraph's Stockhclm correspondent. The latest despatches show that the defenders retain then- 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 northwards, and have recaptured the Dzerzhinsky tractor works, despite the fact that their line of commimication southward has been cut and Stukas are blocking the retreat to the Volga. These units are at great sacrifice holding up large forces which could otherwise be thrown against Russian positions in the centre of the city. The Moscow correspondent of The Times states that Russian operations north-west of Stalingrad are still of a local eharacter. The German defences are strong and deep. Small groups of Russians are gnawing their way forward, and each day brings slight but significant successes. Rome radio claims that the area of Russian resistance at Stalingrad is one and a half square miles, and that the defenders are surrounded and practically cut off from the Volga. The Germans are perilously close to the Volga in northern Stalingrad. They have the Volga bank under direct fire endangering the Russian ferries, says the Moscow correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System. Germjan guns are earrying on a duel with Russian field guns mounted in steel barges, which are towed by motor-boats. These small ships swarm close to the shore in surprise night attacks. The Russians call them "river tanks." SOVIET H.Q. STATEMENT. Soviet Headquarters states that in the area of Stalingrad fierce fighting continues. In one sector enemy infantry and tanks attacked our positions, and at the price of huge losses occupied one block. Several hundred of the enemy were killed and 18 German tanks destroyed. Our pilots shot down nine aircraft, and A.A. batteries shot down five. North-west of Stalingrad our troops waged fighting of local importance. Artillery dispersed enemy infantry preparing to attack. In another part of the same front three attacks were repulsed. In the area of Mosdok enerny attacks were repulsed. Soviet Marines made a landing behind enemy lines on the Black Sea, inflicted losses, and returned safely. The Luftwaffe 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 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 MLscow correspondent of the Daily Express. The Germans have made 28 attacks since Friday night, all of which were repulsed. The 29th attack 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. GREAT WORK BY GUARDS. The most notable of all the defending units is the Guards Infantry Division, 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 a pause for 21 days. They went over to the offensive on Saturday, held a new German thrust and foreed the Germans to fall back in one sector. 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 a salient parallel with the Volga. They were making some progress in the southern drive where a critieal 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 ferryboats, slow, woodburning craft, have been mobilised. German losses at Stalingrad and in the Caucasus include at least 12 aivisions sinashed, besides thousands of tanks and planes, according to a Moscow message. A Stockholm report states that the German offensive continues in the Leningrad area with heavy losses, notably of Italian-built planes piloted by Finns.