SITUATION AT STALINGRAD

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 2

SITUATION AT STALINGRAD

WEATHER LIMITS AIR ACTIVITY. TITANIC BATTLE IN BALANCE.

P.A. Gable.

LONDON, Oct. 12.

The titanic battle for Stalingrad is in its 60th day. The issue is still in the balance, but the Russians' position is daily becoming more tense. The Moseow correspondent of The Times says that a break in the weather has limited air activity, but it is not hampering the enemy's ground forces. Strong tank forces are battering the northern industrial region with undiminished violence. The defenders are clearly very hard pressed. Each fresh attack is preceded by two or three hours' ccneentrated bombing, accompanied by a mortar and artillery barrage. Nevertheless, each day in which the Russians stand firm seriously reduces the Wehrmacht's ehances of developing subsequent successes, and also has a significant effect on the Allies' entire strategieal situation. Stalingrad is as much a bastion of the Middle East as central Russia.

The issue of the whole Stalingrad battle hangs dangerously in the balance, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. If the Germans once instal themselves in the northern part of the city, the position in the centre will become preearious. General Rodimtsev's Guards have not yet said the last word, but the situation still looks very critical. Vichy radio declares that the battle for Stalingrad has reached its culminating point. The Germans laid down on the Red October works, the last bastion of Russian resistance, the heaviest bombardment of Stalingrad ever seen. Bome Radio claims that the Germans captured the last bridge across the Volga to northern Stalingrad. The Moscow correspondent of The Times says that in addition to the gigantic battle on the banks of the Volga, which spreads many miles westwards and encircles Stalingrad in a large are, a no less momentous battle is being fought out on the river itself. Stalingrad's fate depends on supply-lines. The defenders require hundreds of tons of shells, bullets and food daily. Every type of craft has been mobilised for the battle of the Volga crossings. The niotley flotilla is manned by naval cadets, pensioners, gardeners, flshermen and women. They stick to their jobs and feed the foattle's insatiable maw with the greatest fortitude. It is the spirit with which one day all Russia hopes the people of Britain will mobilise strength and courage to feed their armies across the water.