Evening star., 1942-09-09
Reinforced Nozis Hommerino
Detenses West Of Sto|inerod
TO Widen Wedge in Red Lines
Russians Beot OFF
Attacks Southwest
Of Volgo City
BY EDDY GILMORE.

TeoSNioscu flcsS war C0TreSDOndent,
MOSCOW, Sept. 9.-Reinforceo
German divisions concentrated
attacks on the western defenses
of Stalingrad today in an effort
to widen a hard-won wedge and
the situation was described here
as particularly complicated,
but the Red Army was reported
holding fiercely in every sector.
The Russians said Nazi tanks and
infantry, sheltered by dive -bombers
had deepened the salient from the
west yesterday. while Soviet troops
beat off fianking attacks from the
southwest.
Today's midday communique
however, mentioned no new with
drawals and announced further
gains in the central front offensive.
Russian troops dislodged the
enemy from a fortified district west
of Moscow and occupied three more
settlements, it said They were re-
ported to have slain 400 Germans
and captured prisoners and war
supplies.
Mines Blow Up Tanks.
A Russian minefield west of
Stalingrad blew up three German
tanks and Soviet gunners damaged
six others of formation maneuver-
ing in front OF the field, the COM
munique said.
Red Army mortar batteries and
rlHemen were reported to have slain
$50 invaders in two of a series of
actions southwest of the Volga River
industrial center, where field dis
patches said italian and Rumanian
troops and fresh tanks from other
fronts had been moved into action.
-Four successive assaults, sup
ported by massed planes, were re-
pulsed in that sector, Izvestia said.
The government newspaper said the
aircraft were literally hanging over
our front line and bombing our
positions" but the Russian forces
waited them out and then arose to
drive off the enemy land forces.
Red Army patrols and mortar
batteries wiped out 230 Germans in
the overnight fighting about Novo-
rossisk, a Black Sea naval base, and
20 German troop trucks were
smashed, the Russians said. -
Red Star reported that violent
battle ragged around the wedge which
the Germans and Rumanians have
thrust into this sector. The defense
position was described as both
strained and difficult. German tank
charges against a Russian flank
were declared unsuccessful.
Soviet resistance appeared firmer
In the Mozdok district of the Central
Caucasus, where a battle is under
way south of the Terek River. The
Russians were reported fighting to
annihilate a German formation
which crossed the river.
Five German tanks were disabled
and company of enemy infantry
was wiped out" yesterday in phases
Of this continuing engagement, it
was announced.
Red Star said the Russians had
driven the Germans from village
of that sector at bayonet point; Red
Army cavalry hurled back German
regiment and forced the invaders to
withdraw from an important posi-
ton; and the Red Air Force raided
crossings where the Gemans were
attempting to move reserves to the
south bank and wrecked number
Of bridges.
Fresh Troops Bolster Won Book.
Soviet artillery turned back a pre-
liminary thrust by armored van
guards Of the divisions arrayed west
Of Stalingrad and see-saw fighting
for village cost the invaders five
tanks and about $50 officers and
men, the Soviet Information Bureau
said earlier
But fresh Axis troops and ma
chimes moved up to bolster Field
Marshal Fedor Won Books columns
and, for the second successive day
the information bureau reported
that after violent engagement
our troops retreated to a new de-
zense line"
Mixed brigades of Red Navy and
Red Army men were reported fight
ing tenaciously to contain German
and Rumanian forces which had
seized a salient within the defenses
of the fortified naval station OF
Novorossisk, on the Black Sea.
Flyers of the Red Banner Baltic
Fleet were credited with destruction
of 10 German tri-motored planes II
en- attack on an AXIS alrdrome