BIG AIR BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1942, Page 3

BIG AIR BATTLE

RUSSIANS RESERVE PLANES THROWN IN SIXTY-NINE AXIS MACHINES DESTROYED. TOLL TAKEN OF ENEMY TANKS & GUNS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, '9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, September 22. The latest despatches indicate that the Germans have made practically no progress in the incessant struggle for Stalingrad. On the contrary a Russian communique supplement states that in several sectors the defenders have pushed forward, destroying many tanks and destroying or silencing eight artillery batteries. Several streets have been recaptured and bitter battles continue to be fought for every house from cellar to attic, where German sub-machine gunners are being systematicaly mopped up. A huge air battle has flared up, according to Moscow Press messages, the Russians apparently having thrown in fresh aircraft. There have been 55 dogfights in a single sector ijn the past three days, the Russians destroying 69 planes. The Germans have withdrawn a number of regiments to the rear, for reformation, simultaneously throwing in fresh reserves in an effort to end the deadlock.

Stubborn fighting also continues in the Mozdok region, where, despite high losses, the Germans have occupied a height in one locality. Meanwhile, on the north-west front, the Russians have penetrated an enemy defence line in one locality and pushed forward, repelling counter-at-tacks and capturing booty. Russian partisans are active and, in one White Russian district, have blown up two miles of railway tracks.

sians more heavily engaged along a more extensive front than at any other time since the outbreak of the fighting. The Russian aggressiveness between the Don and the Neva is unquestionably trying the nerves of the German High Command. The Russian offensive has nowhere made impressive territorial progress, but it is keeping every sector alert, and the most frequent complaint in the German Press is that a soldiex- is unable to get adequate sleep. A Berlin spokesman said that the Germans in the Rzhev sector have been obliged to meet more than 300 distinct attacks since the beginning of September. The Russian pressure bere relaxed in the weekend, probably in preparation of a new fist for further blows. CALL ON GERMAN RESERVES. The Russian thrust at Sinyavino, south-east of Leningrad, has also paused for breath, and the Germans are frantically trying to strengthen the threatened and narrowed isthmus between Shlusselburg and the main Baltic army. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that probably fox- the first time since the outbreak of wax’ the question of reinforcing the Sinyavino sectox- is causing the German command difficulty, doubtless due to the fact that the battle of Stalingrad is absorbing all fresh reserves and the I’iskiness of weakening any sectox’ to an extent which might facilitate a disastrous Russian break-through. Russian sources do not x'efei' to a German claim that Terek and Vladimirovsk, on the Mosdok front, in the Caucasus, have been captured. The invaders to the west are apparently firmly held south-east of Novorossisk.

The Moscow radio announced that a Russian submarine sank four transports in the Baltic, totalling 42,000 tons.