SOVIET ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1942, Page 4

SOVIET ATTACKS

ON NEW GERMAN DEFENCES IN CAUCASUS MORE ENEMY ADMISSIONS AND CLAIMS. AXIS LOSSES AT STALINGRAD. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) —LONDON, November 22. The Russians are retaining the -initiaitve in the Nalchik area (in the Central Caucasus), which cease- . Jess rains have converted into a sea of mud, and are attacking the new - Axis defence lines. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that one Red Army unit drove a wedge into the German positions, threw back counter-attacks against its flanks, and forced the enemy to retreat. This correspondent estimates Axis losses in the ninety-day battle for Stalingrad at 150,000 killed, with 1200 tanks and 1500 planes destroyed. ... The Berlin News Agency repeats a , German spokesman’s announcement that the Russians have begun an offensive on the southern front. The News Agency says the Russians launched attacks at Serafimovich (on the Don, 110 miles north-west of Stalingrad), at Krasnoarmeisk (20 miles, south ,of Stalingrad), and in the upper Terek area, in the Caucasus. The Russian attacks near Serafimovich were with several rifle divisions and a number .of tank brigades, and bitter fighting developed. A Russian cavalry regiment penetrated' the Axis lines to attack from the rear, the enemy news agency but was wiped out. This and the attack from Krasnoarmeisk were intended as an enveloping movement for the relief bf Stalingrad, says the Berlin news agency. They were carried out with most powerful forces, but were beaten back. DIRECT THREAT TO GERMANS ENTRENCHED IN STALINGRAD. RUSSIAN ENVELOPING MOVES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) RUGBY, November 22. Tonight’s Moscow announcement appears to herald the end of the long battle for Stalingrad. A force, advancing from the north-west, along the Don, has reached two towns about forty miles due west of the city, while another force, coming from the south, has taken a station 40 miles south-south-west of Stalingrad. A gap of only 30 miles thus separates these forces, advancing some 40 miles behind the Germans entrenched in the disputed city.