Evening star., 1942-09-27
Russians Push Back Nazi Forces
In Bitter Fig hit Above Sta|inqrad;
Army Sees Chance to Hold City
Germans Drive
In Caucasus Is
Also Checked
BY EDDY GILMORE,


MOSCOW, Sunday, Sept. 81
Soviet troops pushed onward into
German positions northwest of
the smoking city of Stalingrad
yesterday, the Russians an
nounced today as Red Star, the
army's official organ, declared
there now is a chance to hold
and repulse the Fascists" who
have been battering at the Volga
River city for 33 days.
The midnight Soviet communioue
acknowledged that the Germans had
launched repeated counterattacks
northwest of the city, where the
Russians are threatening to cut off
their communications, but said all
these thrusts were repelled with
1000 casualties for the enemy.
Soviet troops succeeded in ad-
vancing somewhat" it said.
Inside the wrecked and burning
city, the Russians dislodged the
Germans from number of buildings
in one section, the communique said,
killing about 400 officers and men.
In another action on the outskirts
OF the city, Soviet gunners and NOR
tar units were said to have an
initiated about battalion of Ger
man infantry. South of Stalingrad.
In another fierce engagement, the
communique said 300 Germans were
killed and II tanks destroyed.
Fierce Battle Near Mozdok.
Heavy fighting also continued near
Mozdok in the Caucasus, where the
Germans were said to have launched
five attacks without making any
gains toward the Grozny oil field,
main objective of the southern drive.
The communique said the Ger
mans were continuing their attacks
in the Black Sea region, southeast
of Novorossisk, but that here too all
attacks were repulsed and large
numbers of enemy troops wiped out
On the northwestern front in the
area of Sinyavino other German
attacks were stopped, the COM
munique said.
Stalingrad's commanders literally
had gone into the city's caved cellars
in their gallant stand, while from
the north Soviet relief columns
threw back a new and vicious Ger
man counterattack, advanced and
occupied what yesterdays noon-day
communique called "a more advan-
tageous position"
(1he German communique
Saturday said several Communist
Party headquarters buildings
near the Volga had been occupied
by the Nazis at Stalingrad, and it
claimed that further Soviet relief
attacks against the northern
barrier erected by German and
allied troops" had been repelled.
In both the western Caucasus
and in Terek Valley, the COM
munique claimed ak-throughs.)
Halt of Nazis Described.
Prior to issuance of the midnight
communique, the dispatches from
every active sector-from the chill
ing Volkhov area east of Leningrad
to the autumnleafed valley of the
Terek in the deep Caucasus-told
the story of Germans halted.
In this situation Red Star ISSUED
Its rare note of optimism to the
Russian fighters. e
The newspaper warned com.
manders and soldiers against tht
old theory that because Russia il
vast it could not be defeated. Bu
it pointed out that by defending
what still is held. and by develop
ing counterattacks, victory could b.
achieved.
1t cited the heavy German losses
said there was definite evidence tn.
Nazis and their vassal forces wer'
wearing out, and pointed to tn,
coming winter and Hitler's increas
ing burden of holding the newt,
occupied countries.
In Stalingrad last night tn
fighting was such a melee that tn
German air force had switched t,
heavy attacks on the Volga cross
tSee RUSSIA, Page A-8D