Increased Fury of Struggle

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 3 September 1942, Page 5

Increased Fury of Struggle

GERMANS CLAIM IMPORTANT SUCCESS Capture of Keystone of Fortifications

London, Sept. I. A German news agency says Kalach was captured after a battle lasting several days. It is the keystone of the Stalingrad fortifications. The battle for Stalingrad was renewed on a scale exceeding even last week’s tremendous collision before the city. German sources state that both sides are making a supreme effort, and history has not recorded such tremendous troop concentrations in a comparable area. The Germans brought up heavy tank reinforcements, including some diverted from the Caucasus with which Field-Marshal von Bock has fashioned a great fist which is seeking to deepen the dent in the Russian positions south of the city. The Germans apparently are making some progress from the Krasnodar and Metsk area. The Russian riposte has been to sally across the Don in the Kletskaya area where, after some days’ bombardment of Italian positions by artillery and planes, the Russians swarmed across the Don during the night and cut up two Italian divisions.

The Germans are rushing up Hungarian, Rumanian and Italian reinforcements to Kletskaya. The Russian drive in this area is aimed at cutting off the German route across the Don to Kachlinskaya.

The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says fierce Russian bayonet charges threw Italians from a high bank on the Don for a considerable distance. The Germans are clearly in considerable difficulties north-west of Kletskaya and in danger of losing the main part of their forces which struck across the Don if the Russians maintain the pressure which has almost closed around the Germans.

Both sides are swinging tanks freely across the open country in this area, where the Germans yielded some positions and have not advanced anywhere for several days. Von Bock is constantly attempting to provide his endangered force with supplies by transport plane and parachute, also by convoys running the gauntlet of a narrow corridor. GERMAN CONVOY TRAPPED The Moscow representative of the “Daily Express” says the German sorridor is maintained by strong patrols of light tanks, lorried infantry and motor cyclists under an umbrella of Mcsserschmitts. A great convoy attempted to dash through during the night but was trapped in a hail of fire and was unable to advance or fall back. Only a few lorries re-crossed the Don corridor, which is now a smoking mass of wrecked vehicles. HEAVY COUNTER BLOWS According to Moscow radio the Russians are delivering heavy counterblows south of Krasnodar and dispersed or wiped out five infantry battalions and recaptured several commanding heights. The battle continues in the Prokhladnaya vicinity. The Germans unsuccessfully again attempted to cross the Terek river in the Mosdok area. Heavy local fighting is reported in the Lake Ilmen and Leningrad areas. The Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Express” says the Russians now hold almost half of Rjev and have taken several more villages. Progress is slow and painful.—P.A.