SERIOUS THREAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 3

SERIOUS THREAT

GERMANS FACE DESTRUCTION* THREE GREAT SOVIET PINCERS* EVEN GREATER GAINS LIKELY. (N.Z. Press Association—-Copyright).-(Rec. 11.25 a.m.), LONDON, Nov. 26. The total numbers of enemy threatened Avith destruction by the Russian offensive is not accurately known, but it is believed in London to be at least 20 divisions, many of which have been probably much reduced by the fruitless attacks on Stalingrad in the last three months. Apparently the Germans have so far found it impossible to carry out any effective counter-at-tacks or even halt the Russian ad- - vance. It is difficult to draw a precise picture of this vast battleground. Roughly, three great pincers are being wielded by the Russians, one closing on the outskirts of Stalingrad itself from the north and south. The second line is some 45 miles west of the jaws which seemed yesterday to be only 20 miles,, apart at Kalach in the south '' and Navatov in the north, both on the Don. The third and most comprehensive pincer has s\yung down from .Serafimovich and turned east at Chernyshevskaya in a tremendous embracing sweep, crossing the river Chiiy-y where'the Germans might have been expected to make a stand, and reaching Richov on the east-west railway, \ thus virtually completing encirclement of the tip of the Don Elbow. The other arm of the third pincer is the western branch of that which captured Kalach. Though the Russian gains are already great it seems not unreasonable to anticipate even greater gains as the result of movements that are still tak- I ing place. • , ) The battle of the Don and Volga Bends may Avell prove the greatest setback Hitler has yet suffered at the hands of the Russians. —British Offi-. cial Wireless.