NAZIS REPULSED

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 252, 26 October 1942, Page 5

NAZIS REPULSED

STALINGRAD'S STAND NO MAJOR CHANGE ANYWHERE

P.A. Cable.

LONDON, Oct. 24.

A Soviet official report to-night states: "In the area of Stalingrad the enemy, having brought up new reserves, launched attaeks in the fbetory area. The enemy threw into the battle two infantry divisions, supported by 80 tanks and large numbers of planes. Our troops offered stubborn resistance and the enemy suffered heavy losses. Fighting developed into hand-to-hand encounters on several occasions, but the enemy attacks were repelled and our troops are firmly holding their positions. A small enemy infantry group penetrated the outskirts of one factory. In these engagements 1500 Germans were kilied and 17 tanks and 25 lorries were destroyed. "South of Stalingrad our troops routed enemy reconnalssance units and wiped out two enemy infantry companies. North-west of the city our troops pushed forward. Soviet tanks and infantry penetrated enemy positions and destroyed 16 tanks and two armoured cars. "In two days one Soviet unlt kilied 7000 Germans, destroyed 57 tanks, 100 guns, 70 machine-guns and 26 planes. Our troops captured 150 tanks, which had been damaged in previous actions and were used by the enemy as firing points. "In the area of Mosdok our troops defended their positions. South-east of Novorossisk our troops repelled attacks and wiped out an enemy infantry company." GERMANS CONSOLIDATING. Berlin radio claimed that the Germans last night captured the Red October factory in Stalmgrad, and that 24 of Stalingrad's 26 city districts are now firmly in German hands. The Times Moscow correspondent says there are signs that the enemy in Stalingrad is more interested in consolidating his positions than extending them. Russians estimate that the Germans in Stalingrad have lost 65 to 70 per cent. of their original 22 divisions and 60 per cent. of machines and material. Vichy radio reports that the Russian relief army northward of Stalingrad, supported by planes and 100 tanks, has driven a wedge in the German lines and pushed across the Don. A Berlin spokesman for the first time admitted that Italians, several hundred thousand strong, bore the brunt of the fighting against the Russian relief force on the Don sector north-west of Stalingrad. The spokesman described the Italian losses as grievous. The Russian night communique of October 23 mentioned the Stalingrad and Mosdok areas as scenes of fighting and stated that in one sector of the f ormer city the Germans had resumed the offensive after strong mortar and artillery preparation and e^tensive air raids. The communique stated: "Germans renewed attacks in the direction of one of the factories. The enemy threw into the attack more than two regiments of infantry, with heavy tanks. Our units are beating off the German attacks and infiicting heavy losses. "North-west of Stalingrad the Russians occupied two enemy operational bases, There is little fresh to report from the Mosdok area, but southeast of Novorossisk the Germans sueceeded in gaining ground in one sector at the cost of heavy losses. On Lake Ladoga the Russians have scored an outstanding success against attacking German naval craft." A supplement to the communique stated: "On October 22, 30 enemy ships and motor torpedo-boats, supported by aircraft, attempted to land troops on one of our islands in Lake Ladoga. The landing atteinpt v/as frustrated, and the enemy was routed by the island garrison, our vessels, and by aircraft of the Red Ranner Baltic Fleet. Sixteen enemy ships were destroyed and captured. Fifteen enemy aircraft were brought down. Our ships suffered no losses." ENEMY TACTICS IN STALINGRAD Inside Stalingrad, the Germans are building up strongholds on a circular plan. Often they find it necessary to gain some particular buHding for complete contact between groups. The fiercest fighting centres round these premises, which may change hands several times. The Germans give their fortified points every protection possible, so that in places the Russians, when they attack, are compelled to concentrate considerable fire and forces against every house they storm. Nevertheless, the Russians recovered several blocks of houses in the western suburbs two days ago. The Red Star says that where deadock is reached in the fighting inside Stalingrad the Germans are seeking new methods of street fighting in which batteries are broken up and single tanks accompany tommygunners and infantry in a charge. Light guns are mounted on roofr tops Tanks are very vulnerable in street fighting, and therefore are used with extreme caution, often merely as a hide-out for small groups of tommy-gunners. The Red Star adds that 22 German divisions are concentrated against Stalingrad, including 15 infantry -divisions, three motorised divisions of infantry,. and four tank divisions, possessing in all over 500 tanks, 1200 field guns, 1000 trench mortars, and 800 aircraft.