STALINGRAD FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 28 August 1942, Page 5

STALINGRAD FRONT

TERRIFIC TANK BATTLE POSITION STILL EXTREMELY SERIOUS ENEMY ADVANCE IN THE CAUCASUS (Rec. 9.55 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 27. Latest dispatches speak of street fighting on the outskirts of Rjev, where the Germans are reported to be resisting fiercely and desperately trying to cling to this important rail and road centre. Last winter the Red Army half encircled Rjev, but the Germans determined to hold the town at any cost and reinforced the six divisions operating in that area by three in July and another five in August. They have also continued to strengthen the fortifications adjacent to the towns.

Rjev is nearly 700 miles from Stalingrad and even if the Germans wished to transfer to the central front some of their strength from the Stalingrad and Caucasian fronts it is doubtful If communications are sufficiently good to make such an operation quickly feasible.

Thus the Russian offensive in the centre is not regarded in informed circles in London as likely to have any immediate effect on the situation around Stalingrad, which remains extremely serious.

A Moscow message states that a terrific tank battle has been raging for the second day and night north-west of Stalingrad with hundreds of tanks and scores of planes massed on either side. The Germans, who have sustained enormous losses with many regiments bled white, were reported to have been stemmed, but as always new reserves were brought up and flung into the battle.

Large-scale dogfights in the air are a frequent feature of the present battles and “Izvestia” says the Germans have brought in their best Luftwaffe units. Soviet bombers and anti-tank Stormoviks have raided successfully enemy aerodromes and wrecked scores of planes which were ready to take off. In the Prokhladnaya area in the Caucasus fierce fighting is going on for river crossings. Russian mortars and artillery batteries wrecked two bridgeheads and routed an enemy motorised column. IN THE CAUCASUS Defensive fighting with enemy tanks and motorised infantry at Mozdok (70 miles westward of Grozny and 150 miles from the coast of the Caspian Sea) is mentioned in a supplementary Soviet communique. Several more localities were occupied on the central front, where the Russians are making further advances. — 8.0. W. AIR RAIDS ON GERMANY (Rec. 9.0 a.m.) London, Aug. 27. Berlin radio says that Russian aircraft raided north-eastern and central Germany last night. One penetrated the outskirts of Berlin. —P.A.