GRAVE WARNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1942, Page 3

GRAVE WARNING

ISSUED BY MOSCOW RADIO IMPORTANCE OF STALINGRAD & GROZNY. TO SOVIET AND ALL FREE PEOPLES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 24. A very grave view of the Stalingrad situation seems to be justified by reports from Moscow and Stockholm. The Axis forces, regardless of the cost, are advancing, consolidating, and gradually closing Stalingrad and the Volga in an iron grip. If they now succeed in beating off the German pincers groping toward Stalingrad from the south and southwest, the Russians will have achieved a surprising feat of arms. Russian forces, especially under Marshal Timoshenko, are always unbeaten till the last, but the outlook, at Stalingrad is most disquieting. The Moscow radio tonight issued a warning that the loss of 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 Caucasian oil supply. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that a powerful German panzer force moving in from the Kotelnikovo sector is reported to be fighting round Kurnakov, about 50 miles from Stalingrad. Hitler is believed to have reached the front in 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 east of the Don. The Germans have flung in their best reserve divisions against Stalingrad, and German tanks meanwhile are striking toward the railway and attempting to cut the communications.

Dispatches from Stalingrad report that Red divisions are furiously counter-attacking the advancing GerThe plain, between the Don and Volga is reported to be sown with minefields, tanks traps and pillboxes, from which a storm 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 fought ’ themselves eilmost to a standstill before the decision was reached. The position before Stalingrad is. different in one most important detail—at least two months of good campaigning weather remain before winter, the onset of which contributed to the defeat. of the Germans before Moscow. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says the Germans are already within 10 minutes’ flying range of the Volga bend, in which Stalingrad lies, and anti-aircraft protection is necessary for the river traffic.