THE DEFENDERS OF STALINGRAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1942, Page 3

THE DEFENDERS OF STALINGRAD

Initiative in Other Areas With Russians SUCCESSFUL ONSLAUGHT SOUTH-EAST OF LENINGRAD GERMAN DRIVE ON GROZNY HELD UP LONDON, September 14. The Germans have made no appreciable progress towards Stalingrad, and the defenders of the city are hitting back hard. At other points along the Eastern front the initiative remains with the Russians. In the north, round Leningrad Russian artillery has been pounding the enemy’s positions. There has been a good deal of air activity. South-east of Leningrad, Russian troops have broken through strong enemy defence lines in an area where the Russians are attempting to ease communications with Leningrad itself. West of Moscow the Russians are keeping-up heavy pressure against the enemy. Further south fighting has flared up again on the Don, below Voronezh. The Germans tried to smash a Russian bridgehead but the attack was broken with heavy enemy losses. In a neighbouring sector the Russians have forced a new river crossing. North-west of Stalingrad the position appears to have been stabilised for the moment. As the result of the heavy Axis defeat in this area there have been no big developments for nine days. West of Stalingrad violent fighting day and night continues, but there is no substantial change in the position. South-west of Stalingrad the enemy has thrown new troops and equipment into the battle. The main weight of the German onslaught is in this area. The German drive on Grozny is still held up south of the Terek River, near Mozdok. On the Black Sea coast the armies are regrouping after the battle of Novorossisk, with Tuapse as the next enemy objective.