THE LATEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 4

THE LATEST

GERMAN ARMY CORPS SMASHED ONLY ONE DIVISION INTACT. Tank force also beaten. (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25. The Moscow correspondent- of the National Broadcasting Corporation ,(United States) says that three northern armies are sweeping south over from 40 to 80 miles behind the German battle-front at Stalingrad. The first army is driving through ,'Sunovkhino, 80 miles west of Stalingrad, the second is advancing south-west from ' Eletskaya, and the third, racing along the west bank of the Don, has reached a point within 25 miles of Kalach.

This correspondent also reports that the Red Army’s offensive smashed .the entire German army corps which for two months had been digging in south of Stalingrad. Only one of the five divisions remained comparatively intact. It retreated with such speed that the Red Army has not yet caught up. Russian tanks swept in and captured army corps headquarters and the commander only just escaped, leaving the divisional commanders clamouring for instructions. One division waV deserted by its commander and the Russians quickly' routed it. Another division melted like snow under Russian attacks; Two other divisions joined up and fought back, but were badly battered. The “Red Star” says that in heavy fighting south-west of the Don elbow an entire German mechanised regiment, supported by 37 tanks, was wiped out with lall 'the tanks. Heavy fighting is in progress here. The Russians in another sector hereabouts surrounded and annihilated a German mechanised infantry battalion in a 40-minute battle. The Germans, using a whole tank division, made several fierce but fruitless counter - attacks and sustained heavy defeat. The battlefield is littered with Axis dead and equipment.