NAZI ATTACK DIES DOWN

Southland Times, Issue 24891, 3 November 1942, Page 5

NAZI ATTACK DIES DOWN

FACTORY FORTS OF STALINGRAD (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1. The Germans’ third big onslaught against Stalingrad’s factory forts since the middle of October petered out during the week-end. The Germans used only one regiment of tanks, supported by infantry, instead of the usual division of infantry proportionately supported. The German artillery bombardment is also dropping off. The Luftwaffe is reported to be withdrawing planes from other sectors for use against Stalingrad. German air raids against the Russians on the Voronej and Moscow fronts have practically ceased, while Stalingrad is suffering heavy raids. The Germans are using planes from Leningrad and even from Sicily. The Russian Air Force is more active and more effective in the Stalingrad area, but the Germans continue to batter the city, also the Volga crossings. The situation at Nalchik is tense, says the Red Army newspaper Red Star. The Germans are speedily bringing up reinforcements. The Russians yesterday fell back in two sectors. One withdrawal followed a battle against superior forces consisting of 6000 infantrymen, supported by 40 tanks, also planes. The other withdrawal followed an encircle-

ment from which the Russians brqke out Savage battles continue further westward, with the Russians pressing forward north-east of Tuapse, despite stiff resistance everywhere. The Russians are repelling all attacks east of Novorossisk. A German communique claims a considerable advance west of the Terek river. GERMAN LOSSES The slackening of land pressure at Stalingrad is attributed to the Russians’ constant toll of German man-power. M. Alexandrov, a member of the executive of the Communist Party, declares that the Russians on some days killed between 4000 and 5000 Axis troops. The Germans, he said, had lost probablby 250,000 men around Stalingrad in the last three months. The Soviet headquarters reports that in the Stalingrad area the Russians defending the outskirts of a factory have repulsed an attack by infantry and tanks who retired, leaving 270 dead and two tanks on the battlefield. Elsewhere in the same area the Russians have been active and have pushed forward. Norinwest of the city a Russian reconnaissance unit has penetrated an enemy position and killed 120 men. AUSTRALIAN AIR UNIT Co-operation With Russians (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 2. Mr A. S. Drakeford, the Air Minister, announced today that a Royal Australian Air Force unit was based for service in Russia helping to protect Allied convoys carrying vital supplies to Murmansk and co-operating with the Red Air Force in hunting enemy surface raiders. Although this was the first time a Royal Australian Air Force unit had been based on Russia it was not the first time Australians had seen service with Red flyers. Australians were also in a Catalina squadron operating from Russian bases.