CENTRAL SECTOR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 29 August 1942, Page 5

CENTRAL SECTOR

SUBSTANTIAL VICTORY FOR RUSSIANS

AIR ATTACKS ON STALINGRAD BITTER GROUND FIGHTING (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) Rugby, Aug. 28 Commenting on the Russian successes in the central sector “The Times” says General Zukhov and General Koniev have won a substantial victory which should have forestalled any possibility of the immediate resumption of an offen. sive against Moscow and may well be exploited to great effect in the weeks to come. “The Times,” however,- doubts that this success will have any immediate effect on Marshal Timoshenko’s armies and adds that the German capture of Stalingrad would undoubtedly be a great disaster, but this threat has been long foreseen and much has been achieved to mitigate it, huge supplies of oil having been built up in other regions. Even if the Germans succeed in capturing Baku itself "The Times” says the reserves already accumulated •should suffice to maintain the Russian armies through the winter and far into next year’s campaign when other forces of the United Nations may reasonably be expected to take their part. HEAVY AIR ATTACK As part of their offensive against Stalingrad the Germans are launching numerous heavy air attacks against the city. A Moscow message says 90 German aircraft were shot down in two days, but the Luftwaffe succeeded in dropping hundreds of bombs in the centre of the city. The message adds, however, that aircraft were unable to break through the Russian anti-aircraft defences guarding vital military objectives.

The latest reports of ground fighting in the Stalingrad area speak of very bitter fighting in the vicinity of an important military objective. A huge group of enemy tanks and infantry broke through but a Soviet unit coun-ter-attacked, permitting Soviet tanks and artillery to arrive on the scene and destroy 60 enemy tanks in the first engagement The second engagement started with the Russians cutting off the enemy wedge from the south and the Germans, deprived of reinforcements and supply lines, hastily turned to the defensive. The Red Army increased its pressure seeking to wipe out the entire group. The battle continues.

CAVALRY REFUSE TO FACE TANKS Trying to wrest the initiative from the j Russians the Germans threw cavalry in the Kletskaya battle for the first time in fighting on the southern front, but the horsemen refused to face Russian tanks and fled as the iron monsters advanced. The Red Army is pressing hard upon the enemy at many points in this area. “Red Star” states that improved weather is making conditions favourable to large-scale tank and air operations. German resistance is stubborn, reserves from other sectors having been brought in. General Leluishenko continues to grind the German defences in the suburbs of Rjev, storming positions street by street and house by house. Fighting is raging in several areas round Rjev as the Germans are dislodged from Zubksov and try to hold new positions- with the support of masses of artillery and many planes.—B.O.W.