Spectre of Winter Drives Germans On

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 112, 5 September 1942, Page 5

Spectre of Winter Drives Germans On

Must Have Stalingrad For Winter Quarters (By Telegraph—-Presa Aaan.— Copyright.) Received Friday, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 1. While wavea of bombere blast Stalin, grad 200 German tank* assisted by a swarm of Stukas and fighters supported by several divisions of fresh In* fantry are hammering incessantly against the Russian defences south-west of tne city. The German High Command is determined to break through the Russian lines in this sector whatever the cost and is constantly bringing up fresh reserves. The defenders heavily counter-attacked and threw back the Germans at one point but the monstrous tide of men and metal is still creeping forward. The situation is very confused north, west of tne city. The Germans are unable to penetrate the main defence lines and thrust rapidly to the Volga which they have apparently reached in the vicinity of Dubrovk, where the Volga is five miles wide. The Germans hold a narrow corridor between ths Don and the Volga In which they are being subjected to attacks from all aides but are greatly aided by the air superiority which they have eetablished throughout the Stalingrad area. The Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph sayes “Remembering the frightful disaster which overtook them before Moscow last winter the Germans are in a terrible hurry to seize Stalin, grad for winter quarter* before the muddy season sets in. They know the mud will bog and slow down their tanks, waterlog their aerodromes and reduce their infantry attacks to a snail’s pace. With the appalling winds from the icy deserts of Central Asia the winter in the naked steppes around Stalingrad although rather shorter is far harder than areund Moacow. There is no other large town in the enemy’s posaeesion for hundreds of miles. They have brought up ths flower of their army for a supreme assault. “Ths Russians know that here and now they must fight what in long-range strategy is perhaps the most decisive battle so far. In one of the world's greatest delaying actions the Russians’ fighter Sorties have greatly increased but the Red Air Force is still overweighted. The Russian tank foroe is heavily outnumbered, but ahowa it knows its task by brave surprise flank attacks and spoiling tactics. Ths Russian artillery is still superior to the German and its mortar work almost as good. izvestia says fighting south-west of Stalingrad is of terrific ferocity. The Germans are sustaining collosaal losses but are still pushing on furiously. The Times' Moscow correspondent says ths Rumanians and Hungarians with whom are mixed conscripted Poles and Serbs are reported to be among the reserves in aotion south-west of Stalingrad. Von Brock is apparently drawing German troops from distant fronts. The defenders are making prodigious efforts to cut the infantry off from the tanks. The Germans are exerting violent efforts in an attempt to capture Novorosaiak. The Germans north-west of there are striving to link up with a force north of Novorossisk. Another force is trying to strike through the Caucasus to cut the road southward of Novorossisk. This force was defeated in a three-day battle. Violent skirmishes continue for the paeaes and heights. The Germans again failed to cross the Terek River where they are aiming to reach Grozny. Some German alpine troops were trapped in the narrow val* leys in this area. The Times’ Stockholm correspondent says hand-to-hand fighting continues in the Kaluga, Medyin and Vlazma sectors. The Russians gained ground in tho Lake Ilmen srea and continue to initiate attacks at Shlusselburg, the Neva River, Lake Ladoga and the Toana River sectors. The Finns report strong Soviet attacks over the whole Karelian isthmus. A Moscow report says that a Baltic Fleet'* Aif Arm heavily damaged enemyoccupied towns, porta and railway Stations.