Evening star., 1942-09-14
Germans POURING
Punzers Into
Crucial Fight
MAP on Page A-4.)
By EDDY GILMORE,
Associated Press War Correspondent

Associated Press War Correspondent
MOSCOW, Sept. 14.-Fresh
hordes of Nazi troops smashed
today at the approaches to Stall
ingrad in an obvious all-out eff
fort to storm the city whatever
the cost in blood, but the Rus
slams said that after yielding
precious ground the Red Army
halted and pushed back a new
penetration southwest of the
city. .-.
Qn Berlin the German high
command said a German infan-
try attack, divisions strong, had
pierced stubbornly defended Red
Army lines, penetrating the out
skirts OF Stalingrad and occupy
ing heights overlooking the city
northwest of the central district.)
Both to the west and southwest
the Germans were pouring tanks
and armored cars and new reserves
into the bloody struggle, but the
mid day communique indicated the
Russians were holding.
Crucial Test at Hand.
Earlier the Russians had reported
the capture by the Germans Of an
unidentified populated place" south
west of Stalingrad. From all reports
it was apparent that the crucial test
for the beleaguered city was at
hand.
A Soviet tank detachment was
credited with halting the German
penetration of the Russian positions
southwest of the lower Volga city.
After the Germans had broken
through, the Russian tanks moved
into the battle, knocked out five
German tanks and II armored cars
and supported the infantry in restor-
ing the Soviet position. the Soviet
Information Bureau, said.
West Of the city. too, the Russians
we're held on the defensive by masses
Of troops and tank forces. In the
one phase Of this fighting described
by the communique seven German
tanks were reported disabled by ar
tillery. and, anti-tank fire while 13
others turned and ned.
Resist Mass Bombings.
One OF the most amazing features
Of Stalingrad's refusal to yield has
been its resistance to mass bomb
ings. Russian troops in the front
lines and in the rear are being sub
jected to attacks by day and night.
Recent dispatches have not men
toned Soviet fighter support, the
defense apparently depending on
anti-aircraft batteries and volleys
from infantrymen who often turn
their rifles on dive-bombers.
This Is considered here as one OF
the wars most ominous develop
ments and Is being watched closely
by American officers here In the In
terest OF getting more planes to the
Soviet Union.
Soviet Marines in Action.
In the central Caucasus, the Rus
slams said their forces in the MOI
dok sector had halted the German
drive toward the Grosny oil fields
but that the Nazis were bringing
up strong reinforcements and that
new assault was expected mo-
menrarily.
Field dispatches said Soviet Ma
rines had been brought into action
on this inland front and had played
= big part in stopping the enemy.
News was lacking on action along
the Black Sea coast south of fallen
Noyorossisk, where the Germans
were believed feeling out Russian
strength in preparation for a thrust
down the coastal road leading to the
oil port Of Batum.
At the northern end of the front
the Red Army offensive continued
In the Volkhov sector toward the
rail town Of Sinyavino This fight.
ing was taking place in heavily for.
titled zones where the Nazis have
been entrenched for almost a year
Fight Hand to- Hand.
The Red Army was fighting hand
to-hand over a broad area west anc
southwest of Stalingrad, Pravds
said in a front dispatch.
German air units which went u,
to bomb the Russians were forcet
80 ~YyeNy