AT HEAVY COST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1942, Page 4

AT HEAVY COST

GERMAN PENETRATION OF STALINGRAD GREAT PART OF SUBURBS OCCUPIED. SOVIET GUNS SPLENDIDLY HANDLED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 28. “The Germans are slowly penetrating and occupying the greater part of the suburbs of Stalingrad, especially in the south,” says “The Times” Stockholm correspondent. “The greatest single factor enabling the Germans to progress is the combination of bombers and » artillery which is pounding continuously, as at Sebastopol, where it slowly reduced rock defences. Stalingrad does not possess rock. The Stalingrad garrison has. fought off persistent attacks, because it has had an equal if not greater mass of artillery, which has been most skilfully handled. Russian presure north-west of Stalingrad shows.no relaxation. Although not making tangible headway, it is engaging large enemy forces, inflicting heavy casualties and preventing regrouping.” The Columbia Broadcasting systems correspondent, broadcasting from Moscow, says the Germans in Stalingrad are trying to drive to the Volga down single separate streets and thus divide the defenders into small groups and then destroy them, piecemeal. The Germans are undoubtedly suffering high casualties, but are constantly bringing up troops in transport planes. A Moscow message says the Germans within Stalingrad are using at least two infantry and two tank divisions. The Vichy radio reported that the German High Command had unleashed the most violent air bombardment Stalingrad has yet suffered.

RZHEV BATTLE

EXPANDING RUSSIAN SUCCESS.

TWO THOUSAND GERMANS KILLED IN TWO DAYS.

LONDON, September 28

While the Russians are keeping up their magnificent defence of Stalingrad in a ding-dong house to house fight, they are making more headway in the Rzhev sector. They have broken through the enemy defence lines north-west of Rzhev and driven the Germans from 25 places in the course of two days. More than 2,000 Germans have been killed, some prisoners

taken and large quantities of equipment captured. On the north-west outskirts of Stalingrad the Germans have launched a new drive with three infantry divisions and 150 tanks. About 50 of the tanks have-been destroyed. A number of the enemy managed to penetrate into a workers’ settlement, where fighting is now in progress. The Russians inflicted severe losses on the Germans.

In the Mozdok area, the Germans, at heavy cost, have captured a village. South of Novorossisk the Russians have gained some ground and they have also had further successes on the Leningrad front.