The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-25

into German lines northwest of Stall ingrad and beaten of a terrific at- tack in the city itself, prompting 8 Soviet military commentator to re- port that the initiative slowly is passing to the Russians.
 Soviet sources estimated German casualties are piling up at 8 rate equally to or exceeding the frightfu rates of the first World war battle of Verdun. Front reports indi- cated the Nazi attack was gradually losing momentum in the face of the fierce defense within Stalingrad'' shattered walls.
 The English language Moscow News reported a sharp reduction ir the ferocity of Nazi air attacks, es. timating that the Luftwaffe is now operating at a level only 30 to 4 per cent of the peak set two week; ago.
 Major General Zhyravlev, writ ing in the Moscow News, said tht battle had reached Stalemate wtiE the initiative passing over towarc the Russians.
 In the gaining attack northwest of Stalingrad the Russians report ed they had captured two more important hills, dominating a wide area, and strategic village.
 The Tass news agency quoted Col Sergueyev that 25,000 Germans hac been killed in the Battle of Stalin- grad last week, and that 5000 ha6 been killed northwest of the city in two days.
 Of German casualties followed the usual ratio of three wounded to one killed, their total casualties at Stalingrad were 100000 men last week.
 The Germans had hastily with drawn large tank and infantry forces from their main assault or SGalingrad and frantically attacked in an effort to stop the threat to their left flank. All attacks failed with heavy losses.
 Soviet tanks broke into German trenches. Infantry followed. con- solidated the positions and hurled 1 back furious German tank and aerial counter attacks.
 Fighting With Fury
 The battle inside Stalingrad went on with a mounting fury, behind crumbIing walls, sandbags and in. side gutted houses.
 Braving ceaseless rain of bombs the Volga river fleet rushed up 8 steady flow of guns, shells anc mines, which volunteer workmen transported to barricades.
 Every worker in a giant tractol factory refused to be evacuated They were organized into army bat talions, and worked day and night repairing tanks, building barricade: and extinguishing fires. Thousand! of girls joined sanitary units ant rescued the wounded from battle fields under enemy fire, and iron burning houses.
 It was the 32nd day of the battle of Stalingrad, which had become meat grinder for Adolf Hitler's le' gions, his tanks and his planes.
 The battle inside Stalingrad wa! so close that the loss of severa houses created a tactical reverse The noon Soviet communique re- ported that the Germans occupied several houses and threatened tht flank of unit. But the Russian! counter-attacked and restored th' situation.
 Hundreds of thousands of civilian. left Stalingrad some time ago, I was revealed, crossing to territory beyond the east bank of the Volga.
 Factory workers and young Com. munists, however, refused to bt evacuated. Girls who belong to thu Communist party, besides nursing duties, gathered children whose parents were killed by bombs ant shells and conducted for them a bie Kindergarten.
 A correspondent, writing for Kom' somolskaya Pravda, organ of th' Communist Youth Party, said tha young girls in a two-day battle II the suburbs ran 8 gauntlet of firt to take wounded from the battle field. When they returned, the! lugged heavy cases of ammunition.
 The correspondent reported tha' the soldiers were so inspired by thu girls heroisrn that they drove tht enemy back and recaptured fac tory and an airfield.
 Of the fighting in Stalingrad ant northwest of it, the noon communi' que said:
 "In the Stalingrad area, fierc' fighting continued. One of our unit! in street fighting wiped out POI Hitlerites and destroyed five Ger man tanks. The Germans, however succeeded in penetrating severa houses and creating a threat to oul unti's flank. Our men counter-at' tackled and restored the situation.
 "On another sector. our trenct mortarmen destroyed three tank and up to one battalion (500 men of enemy infantry.
 Northwest of Stalingrad, Sovie' troops repelIed German attacks. On' tank unit destroyed two heavy Ger man tanks and wiped out two com pai,ies of infantry. In fighting neal locality E, up to 800 of the enemy were wiped out and prisoners anc booty take"
 Dispatches also reported that 6o' yIet troops were advancing steadily on the western front (presumably around Rzhev. no miles northwest of Moacowl, and had taken thre' Inhabited communities, killed morI than 1000 Germans and destroyed % of their tanks in the last 70 days
 NaEl Tanks Failed
 The noon communlque said stroni enemy forces Of tanks and tommy Ginnera had tried to drive Q wodel Into Soviet positions Ilear Mozdok ln the eastern caueRsuf, and failed Tine Germans have been trying fol