RENEWED GERMAN ATTACKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 14 October 1942, Page 5

RENEWED GERMAN ATTACKS

Lull at Stalingrad Broken SLIGHT PROGRESS AT ONE POINT Snow Storms Near Black Sea Coast London, Oct. I 2 Official reports from Moscow indicate tfiat the lull in fighting in the Stalingrad area which had been noted during the previous hours was broken yesterday by renewed attacks from German in fantry. Only on one sector, however, was any German progress reported. An enemy infantry regiment supported by 50 tanks attacked Russian positions three times. All attacks were repelled and the enemy succeeded in pushing slightly forward only at one point I wenty tanks were destroyed and two infantry battalions decimated. On other sectors of the Stalingrad front attacks by small enemy groups were repulsed. Ihe Russians have pushed the Germans back at some points in the Mosdok area.

| The Russians refuse to play Hitler» ! Marne at Stalingrad. Instead of gratefully accepting a lull in German ground attacks and resigning themselves to endure constant shelling and bombing they are hitting back in many small sectors, bayoneting Germans from houses and forcing the tired enemy to maintain a most active defence. It is not yet clear whether the Germans art using the lull for building up a new : striking force before Stalingrad or diverting shock forces to the Caucasus. Berlin reports mention fighting in snow storms near the Black Sea coast, which emphasises Hitler’s need for speed, if he desires to foroe a passage through tiie Caucasian mountains before winter in order to secure a jumping off ground for the Middle East • drive, in conjunction with the renewed offensive in Egypt ! German reinforcements still coming up to Stalingrad may be defensive ! groups intended to replace shock troops ! diverted elsewhere, but the Russians j ale taking chances. They are constantiy strengthening the defences and feeding men and materials into th e city • across the Volga. It is revealed that j underground factories throughout the | siege turned out munitions and repaired tanks and vehicles. I Berlin claims the Germans are niain- | taining their advance towards Tuapse along the road from Armaoir and also j claims that the bridgeheads on the Terek river have all been linked up.— I P.A.

MOSCOW TAKING NO CHANCES

DEFENCES BUNG STRENGTHENED GOOD STOCKS OF FOOD London. Oct. 12. The Mayor of Moscow made a state- | ment that the city was not taking | chances, but was preparing for a pos‘l sible German offensive. Defenqes are j constantly being strengthened and antiaircraft defences have been increased j The population in the last six months 1 increased by 400.000 to 3.200,000. “We j are determined the people will get : warmth and also essential food, transI P° rt - electricity, gas, hospitals, baths, theatres and cinemas. A total of 80.000 wood cutters has been mobilised, chiefly women. They are doing wonderfully, but transport is the main problem. We are well supplied with food, which is •stored throughout the city to prevent undue loss in air raids.” A correspondent of "The Times” reports that members of the Red Army get three hot meals daily and German soldiers only one. The Germans for breakfast get bread, margarine and tea or ersatz coffee, and the Russians get a basin of hot pea or rice soup. For dinner the Germans get hot potato soup and mashed potatoes and the Russians get soup, meat or fish and vegetables. For supper the Germans get the same as breakI !ah t 3 nc * the Russians get porridge, peas and often herrings and tea. The Russians seldom miss their meals, even in the heaviest engagements There are many inconspicuous heroes among the cooks and food carriers. Junior commanders take turns at kitchen duty, where they see that the correct quantities of food are put into the cookers. Sanitary instructors are attached to each subdivision and are responsible for quality. Rations contain 1 adequate fats and vegetables. When lresh vegetables are not available, vita- i min preparations are added. These are ' sometimes made on the spot by speci- : ally treating sweet briar or pine needles. British and American lard, egg powder and tinned meat are among the rations. Tile Red Army is fully supplied, despite the loss of Ukraine. Don and Kuban grain. The German plunderers have had some luxurious feasts, but officers and non-commissioned officers mostly benefit. Plundering is so thor-' ough that the Germans following up I do not find anything. The Mayor of Moscow told an agency j correspondent that Moscow this winter 1 could be warmer than last year. Though j (he Don basin had been lost the Mos- 1 cow coal basin recently recaptured ' | from the Germans was already producing up to 30 per cent, more than before i the war.—P.A.