Evening star., 1942-10-07
Germans HurI Fresh
Divisions Into
Street Fighting
By the Associated Press.

At Stalingrad, whose fate hung in
the balance, the Germans hurled
whole new divisions, fresh from the
march, into the bitter street fight
Ing against outnumbered defenders
who sagged before the impact but
surged back and held through the
44th day of siege.
Dispatches from the battlefront
said that across the steppes north
west of Stalingrad the offensive was
firmly in Russian hands in a relief
attack of increasing scope against
hastily dug German trench lines
studded with half-sunken tanks as
strong points.
1000 Rumanians Killed.
At one point along the line the
Russians reported killing 1900 Ru-
manian troops and capturing others
who tried to hold a small village,
and In other sectors the counter
thrust was declared to be gaining
ground and improving the Russian
position.
The Army newspaper Red Star
said a dangerous situation developed
as the Germans reached the depth
OF an industrial settlement, but
heavy Soviet counterattack cleared
much OF the area. The Red Army
men were reinforced by night and
new fighter planes flew to their aid
The Germans were declared
hurled from the streets, houses, gar
dens and orchards by garrison forces
led by Elite Guards. Explosive and
incendiary bombs caused consider
able damage to houses of the set
tlement and many civilians were
among the casualties.
Many Tanks Operating.
Location of the settlement was
not announced, but many of the So
Wet factories in that area are sew
eral miles from the city. 1t is OBJ
vious that it was not any of the
workers communities along the
Volga, because no dispatches men,
toned the river.
Marshal Timoshenko's shock di-
visions maintained ground-gain-
ing pressure against the strong
-entrenched Germans northwest
of the city, dispatches said. This
area likewise has never been spe-
cifically defined, other than as en-
bracing region of the Steppes be-
tween the Don and the Volga.
Numerous tanks are operating in
this area and small detachments are
playing an ever-bigger role in the
fighting, Red Star said.
Nazi infantrymen were reported
crammed into trenches dug in the
steppes. The government newspaper
Izvestia said the Germans had
buried literally hundreds of burned
out tanks for use as pill-boxes.
The Germans were reported to
have. strong air forces in the area.
Izvestia said Red Army anti aircraft
batteries accounted for 10 in a day.
Half-Dozen Attacks Repulsed.
The noon communique said fierce
fighting continued in the Stalingrad
area in this 44th day of the siege.
THE enemy is drawing up fresh
forces and hurting them into battle
Immediately after marching" it said.
All of a half dozen attacks by a
tank supported German infantry
battalion were declared repulsed in
one area, with destruction OF five
tanks.
I'm another sector" the war bull
letin said, "our artillery fire disabled
seven German tanks, destroyed two
mortar batteries and wiped sout
about a battalion of enemy in
fantry."
Red Army forces improved their
nositions again in offensive opera
tions on one sector northwest OF the
battered city and repulsed German
counterattacks elsewhere, 1t was
announced.
"A height defended by Red Army
men Of one unit was attacked 10
times by the Hitlerites," the COM
n,unioue said. I'm this fighting the
enemy lost more than 300 IN Killed
alone"
100 Dead in Two Assaults.
A similar action southwest OF No
vorossisk was declared to have cost
a newly-arrived Axis infantry divi-
sion about 400 dead in two vain as
saults. The Soviet troops held to
the heights, which was described as
.of great tactical Importance"
"our troops captured five NOR
tars eleven machine-guns and am
munition," the communique said
prisoners were taken
Firming OF Soviet lines In the
Central Caucasus apparently fol-
lowed a withdrawal from one COM
munity In the Mozdok area, a retreat
announced at midnight.
The noon communique spoke only
Of the repulse of tank and infantry
attacks in that area before the Cau-
cas,,s Mountains and Grozny oil
area. saying that 'tn "a hours our
men disabled or set on fire seven
German tanks and wiped out about
a company of Hitlerites."
Red Star said the Germans pene-
trated mountain passes a few days
ago and tried to get across Cau-
casain chain, but furious blows by
the waiting Red Army detachments
repelled them.
All the approaches are again In
Soviet hands, the newspaper said.
Captives were quoted as saying Axis
losses In the mountains were un-
usually heavy, one regiment getting
reinforcements four times In six
days.