GERMANS USE BIG FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 5

GERMANS USE BIG FORCES

FURIOUS ATTACK ON STALINGRAD (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. The fury of the German assaults in the factory area of Stalingrad shows no abatement. The Germans are pushing in men and tanks regardless of losses. They sacrificed 3000 men for a gain of 50 yards in one sector. The Germans are also using large forces at Nalchik, where they retain the initiative and are pressing the Russians hard. The Russians driving from south of Stalingrad have taken three more villiages. The Germans inside Stalingrad are trying to gouge the Russians out by driving down the Volga bank. The Moscow correspondent of Tire Times says the Russians believe that Stalingrad’s resistance has brought about the collapse of Hitler’s summer and autumn offensive. Whatever happens now cannot compensate the German High Command for the last 10 weeks of frustration. Observers consider that the Germans must completely reduce Stalingrad within a fortnight or the entire campaign will be jeopardized. It is reported from Stockholm that the Germans do not now believe that the “Red October” works in Stalingrad and the strong railway district to the south of the works can be taken by infantry because in the past few days the infantry have become stuck and'have been able to make only very slight progress. Moreover the Germans have been obliged to split up their efforts in several directions while Russian reserves of men and material appear to cross the Volga in inexhaustible numbers and quantities. It is suggested in London that the recent German attacks on small towns in the Caucasus, such as Nalchik, which is a railway terminus, may indicate anxiety to seize winter quarters rather than to press their advance into the Caucasus mountains. GERMAN LOSSES

The Germans in the Stalingrad area since the beginning of August have lost 150,000 men and 2500 tanks. Meanwhile, even the infusion of six new German divisions (about 80,000 men) into the third intensified assault on the Stalingrad factory area has not produced results except measured by yards. The ferocity of the fighting has increased ten-fold since the battle area has narrowed. No quarter is asked or given. Machine-gunners in every street remain at their posts, their fingers clamped on to their triggers when their last breath is spent. Anti-tank gunners maintain their fire against the advancing panzer columns until they are blown to shreds or horribly charred by the German flame-throwers.-

It is now a month since Hitler promised that Stalingrad would fall. Today, after 70 days of relentless battering, the anonymous heroes of Stalingrad are still answering that boast with deeds which ring louder and will resound longer than Hitler’s words. The battle, however, is not yet over. General von Hoth still holds the initiative and, with superiority in men and material, is continuing to press the defenders in the vital northern factory area. According to agency reports from Moscow the Red Army is continuing its offensive south of Stalingrad and has captured the outskirts of a settlement by a tank and infantry charge after concentrated bombing of the strong Axis lines. A subsequent German counterattack has failed. Vichy radio declares that a great tank battle is raging south of Stalingrad, with the Russians using a submerged pontoon bridge to get supplies across the river. BATTLES IN CAUCASUS Very violent battles continue in the Caucasus where Axis sources claim that the Germans are advancing south of Nalchik. The Russians, however, do not admit the fall of Nalchik. A Moscow message says that the Germans have brought up strong air reinforcements in the Nalchik area and, with, hundreds of tanks, are doing their utmost to smash to the south. Stormoviks are battering tank concentrations and destroyed 50 tanks in one attack. The Luftwaffe has local superiority in the dog-fights which rage all day.

The Soviet night communique states that the Russians today fought battles in and around Stalingrad, as well as in other areas. Two enemy transports of a total of 20,000 tons were sunk in the Baltic by our ships. In the Stalingrad area the Russians repelled numerous attacks, killing 1100 enemy officers and men during the day. Several enemy tanks were destroyed and 18 German planes were shot down. North-west of Stalingrad battles of local importance took place. In one sector a Rumanian attack was repelled and 180 Rumanians were killed. In another sector the Russians made a sortie and wiped out an enemy company. They also captured booty. North-east of Tuapse the Russians overcame enemy resistance and enemy counter-attacks failed. The enemy has lost in two days 800 men killed. In the region of Voronej Russian artillery destroyed 24 machine-gun emplacements. It also blew up ammunition dumps and silenced three artillery and two mortar batteries. MASSACRES IN RUSSIA Soviet Paper’s Allegations (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. The Germans are still carrying out wholesale massacres in White Russia, says The Soviet War News. The Germans have slaughtered 100,000 persons in the Minsk area, 20,000 in the Pinsk area and 20,000 at Shklovchin. The Germans at Lyubin herded children together and buried them alive before the eyes of their parents, who were then shot. The Germans at Lelchitzy burned alive 150 children of “unreliable parents.” More than 2000 houses were burned down in four days in the Vitebsk region. All the residents of the villages of Kurino and Ostrovetz were herded into houses, over which parafin was poured. Then they were set on fire.