BATTLE OF EXTERMINATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1942, Page 3

BATTLE OF EXTERMINATION

Russian Troops Defending Every Yard ENEMY THRUSTING BEYOND NOVOROSSISK SOVIET ATTACKS IN NORTHERN AREAS LONDON, September 13. The German attack on Stalingrad continues with unabated violence and the Russians have been forced to give some further ground. In the Caucasus withdrawals by the enemy are reported. At points on the west and south-west of Stalingrad the Russians have been forced back slightly, but there is no confirmation of a German claim to have penetrated into the southern part of the town. One village west of Stalingrad changed hands three times before the Russian troops eventually withdrew. South-west of the city German troops penetrated the Russian positions, but they were hurled back to their starting point. Reuter’s correspondent states that the gigantic struggle for Stalingrad is a battle of extermination. The Germans have made costly progress yard by yard. In the past five days five villages have been captured by the enemy in the western sector and several others have been given up in the south-west. The German losses have been so heavy that the enemy has been compelled to change his tactics. The tanks now form up in the shape of a wedge, with the heavy ones as the spearhead and the medium ones and armoured cars on the flanks. Russian pilots are playing a big part in the defence of the city. The Germans are withdrawing their troops from advanced positions in the high mountains near Moydok, where the first snow is falling.. Round Moydok the Germans appeared to have received reinforcements and launched a big attack in an attempt to break through the Russian ring. The attack failed completely and the Germans are back in their original positions. In the Black Sea area the Germans are pressing forward along the narrow coastal strip from Novorossisk towards their next objective, Tuapse. North of Stalingrad the Russians are attacking' in the Rzhev sector. Southeast of Leningrad fighting is taking place on a big scale. The Germans have launched a strong counterattack. They are trying to hold a short section of a vital railway linking Leningrad with the rest of Russia. Russian marines have carried out a surprise landing on an enemy-occupied coast in the Arctic. Moscow messages report that fighting is still in progress. The marines landed from gunboats, inflicted casualties and took prisoners.