Regardless Of Cost Nazis Close In On City Of Stalingrad

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 3

Regardless Of Cost Nazis Close In On City Of Stalingrad

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Grave disquiet at situation on Don and in the Caucasus.

Rec. 11.45 p.m. London, Aug. 2 . THE very grave view of the position at Stalingrad seems justified by reports from Moscow and Stockholm that Axis forces, regardless of cost, are advancing, consolidating and gradually closing Stalingrad and the Volga in an iron grip. If the Russians now succeed in beating off the German pincers groping towards Stalingrad from the south and the south-west they will have achieved a surprising feat of arms. The Russian forces, and especially those under Marshal Timoshenko, are always un- . beaten until the last, but the Stalingrad outlook is most disquieting. Moscow radio to-night issued a warning that the loss ot Stalingrad and Grozny would have most serious consequences for the Soviet people and for all the freedom-loving world. It would separate the Russian armies and cut off the rest of Russia from the main Causasian oil supply. The Daily Express Stockholm correspondent says a powerful German panzer force is moving in from the Kotelnikov sector and is reported to be fighting around Kurnakov, about 50 miles from Stalingrad. Herr Hitler is" believed to have reached the front m an armoured train to direct the final assault against Stalingrad.

According to the Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent, the railway line from Stalingrad to Moscow is already being shelled 13 miles eastward of the Don, and may even now be severed. The Germans flung in their best reserve divisions against Stalingrad. German tanks meanwhile are striking towards the railway attempting to cut communications. Dispatches from Stalingrad report that Red divisions are furiously counter-at-tacking the advancing Germans. The plain between the Don and the Volga is reported to be sown with minefields. tank traps and pillboxes, from which a 6torm of fire is being concentrated on the Germans- The situation there is similar to that before Moscow last autumn. The opposing armies then also strained their resources to the utmost and foughl themselves almost to a standstill before a decision was reached. The position before Stalingrad is different in one most important detail — at least two montns of good campaigning weather remain before the winter, the onset of which contributed to the defeat of the Germans before Moscow. The Times' Moscow correspondent says the Germans are already within 10 minutes' flying range of the Volga bend in which Stalingrad lies. Anti-aircraft protection is necessary for river traffic. The Russians are waging a defensive battle against tanks and modernised infantry at Prohladnaya, on the RostovBaku railway at the point where it crosses the Terek River, 70 miles southeast of Pyatigorsk, says a supplement to the Soviet communique. Particularly stiff fighting is raging against German tanks and infantry which crossed the Don, it adds. "During August 24 ou.r troops fought the enemy in the area south-east of Klietskaya and north-easta of Kotelnikov as well as in -the area of Prohladnaya and south of Krasnadior. Our warships in the Gulf of Finland sank a German transport of 7000 torts."' Tanks Advance Across Steppes. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says th?it a huge German tank force is advan/jing across the blazIng steppes north-east of Kotelnikov, threatening to by-pass Stalingrad and reach the Volga south of the city. The vital Stalingrad-Moscow railway, already under conritant artillery and air bombardment, is ' now virtually useless. German tanks and infantry which crossed the Don in fdrce south-west of Klietskaya are now, driving forward in an attempt to reach this railway. The Red army is making desperate efforts to hold up the German steam roller. The correspondent adds that the military situation is equally grave in the Northern CaVicasus. The German spearhead has m/oved some distance south from Krasntxlar along the railway to Novorossisk. The Luftwaffe has intensified its attempts to wipe out the naval base at Novorossisk and Tuapse, but is

meeting with fierce opposition from the Russian air force. The Russian Black Sea fieet is shelling German positions on the coast of the Sea of Azov. The Moscow radio announced that the Germans have captured Pyatigorsk. In south Russia Marshal Timoshenko's forces are fighting night and day to conquer the two dangerous enemy thrusts against Stalingrad. North-west of Stalingrad the Germans are pouring tanks and heavy equipment over the Don elbow, while south-west of the city the Germans have driven a new wedge through the Russian minefields. The Germans have now made two dents in the Russian defences north-east of Kotelnikov. One of these appears to be directed up the railway towards Stalingrad, while the other, further east, threatens the Volga between Stalingrad and Astrakhan. The Russians are going all out to smash the German bridgehead over the Don elbow. The Germans are reported to be shelling the railway, a dozen miles from the Don. At present there is no immediate threat to Stalingrad itself, which lies 40 miles to the east, but the Russian position is obviously grave. On the Caucasus front the enemy are still making progress south-east of Pyatigorsk in their drive towards the Grozny oilfields and the path across the high Caucasus to Tiflis. The Russians have been compelled to withdraw in one sector after hard fighting. South of Krasnodar, where the Germans are trying to push to the Black Sea coast, Russian artillery is living up to its highest traditions in endeavouring to neutralise the enemy superiority in men and material.