GERMAN FORCES AT STALINGRAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1942, Page 3

GERMAN FORCES AT STALINGRAD

No Important Attack in 24 Honrs MORE SOVIET HEADWAY NORTH-WEST OF CITY IMPORTANT HEIGHT TAKEN FROM ENEMY IN CAUCASUS ' LONDON. October 11. The German panzer and infantry units at Stalingrad are still licking their wounds. During the last 24 hours the Germans have not made a single important attack. Activities are confined mostly to artillery duels by both sides. The Russians are taking advantage of the lull to consolidate their positions. This weakness of enemy aggression, states Mr Paul Winterton, the London “Mews-Chronicle’s” Moscow representative, is due to sheer exhaustion. The “Red Star” emphasises the enormous losses suffered by the Germans and states that this supports Mr Winterton’s view that the Germans’ decision not to make any fresh infantry assaults on the city, but to leave further action to the air force and artillery, was forced on the enemy.

The enemy, however, has not given up the idea of capturing Stalingrad, the Soviet Army newspaper adds. Fresh reserves are being brought up in preparation for a new assault. North-west of Stalingrad, Soviet troops are again moving forward. German forces which crossed the Don were driven back.

In the Caucasus heavy fighting is reported near Novorossisk, in the foothills north-east of Tuapse. Russian troops secured an important height and broke into a village which was held by the Germans.

South-east of Leningrad, the enemy is still trying to regain lost positions and heavy fighting continues.