GERMAN CLAIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1942, Page 3

GERMAN CLAIM

TO HAVE REACHED VOLGA DENIED BY RUSSIANS. BUT ENEMY PERILOUSLY CLOSE. LONDON, October 18. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says that the Germans, after driving a narrow salient into northern Stalingrad, arc now attempting to drive north and south from the salient parallel to the Volga. They made some progress in the southern drive, where a critical situation developed till a Russian flank attack restored the situation. Russian reports indicate that the situation has not deteriorated in the past 24 hours, but the Germans are clearly in a strong position and have the river crossings under mortar and artillery fire. The Russians have , reinforced the Volga flotilla, even shabby old ferryboats and slow wood-burning craft having been mobilised. The Germans today threw a third infantry division into the gap which was gouged out on Friday by the capture of the workers’ settlement in the northern outskirts of Stalingrad, says the Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Express.” The Germans have made 28 attacks since Friday night, all of which have been repulsed, and the 29th is now in progress. The Germans claim to have reached the Volga bank in three places. This is untrue, but it must be recognised that they are not far from the river. Most notable of all the defending units is the Guards infantry division, commanded by Major-General Rodimtsev. They crossed the Volga in pontoons and boats on September 27 and went straight into the battle. They have been fighting without pause foi 21 days, but they went over to the offensive yesterday and forced the Germans to fall back in one sector. The Germans are perilously close to the Volga in northern Stalingrad, and they have the river bank under direct fire, endangering the Russian ferries, says the "Moscow correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System German guns are carrying out a duel witn Russian field-guns mounted m steel barges which are towed by motorboats. These small ships swarm close to the shore in surprise night attacks. The Luftwaffe is again making mass raids o n Stalingrad, relentlessly

pounding the city in. an attempt, to pulverise the remaining defences.. The Germans are clearly determined to occupy the city before the winter closes in, and they are launching ceaseless assaults with ever-renewed forces. It is generally agreed now that it will be another Russian “miracle” if the Germans are again thwarted.