STALINGRAD FIGHTING

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 253, 27 October 1942, Page 5

STALINGRAD FIGHTING

WEATHER FAVOURS GERMANS THRUST IN FACTORY AREA.

B.O.W.

RUGBY, Oct. 26.

Violent fighting, which has been resumed at Stalingrad as a resuit of an improvement in the weather, shows no sign of slackening. The Germans again attacked with tanks and infantry in the factory area after strong artillery and mortar preparation. The Russians are repelling the attacks and infiicting lieavy losses; but after a bitter struggle which repeatedly developed into hand-to-hand combat, the enemy succeeded in penetrating the outskirts of one factory. Fighting, aimed at the annihilation of this enemy group, is proceeding. The Russians meanwhile eontinue to hammer the German left fiank north-west of the city, dislodging the enemy from pillboxes, trenehes and other positions. %Hard fighting in the Mosdok area appears to be confined to artillery and mortar duels.

Despatches from Moscow to-night all refer to freak "Indian summer" weather which has favoured the Germans attacking Stalingrad during the past three days. The Times' Moscow correspondent says this has made possible the resumption of violent activity by the Luftwaffe, but the Germans have nowhere made appreciabie gains. There were rarely fewer than 50 dive-bombers over Stalingrad yesterday. Bitter fighting is continuing in the north-western suburbs. The Red October factory's defences are proving ekceptionally strong. The Russians are also shipping strong reinforcements across the Volga each night. The Germans state that Marshal Timoshenko's attacks against the Panzer wall north-west of Stalingrad are becoming more violent. The Germans in colder weather are persisting in their attempt to break through a river valley in the Western Caucasus leading to the main highway where they could cut off the Russians fighting on the coast. Intense air fighting has flared up anew, but the Russians are holding their own throughout the Caucasus. Both sides mention locally important fighting between the Don elbow and Leningrad, particularly near Voronej and in the Kolkhov and Leningrad sectors.