STILL ADVANCING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 90, 26 January 1943, Page 4

STILL ADVANCING.

THE LATEST

RUSSIANS ON THE SOUTH-WEST.

OCCUPATION OF A CITY. FIERCE STREET FIGHTING. fN.Z. Press Association—Copyright! _ (Rec. 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2d. The Moscow radio says that on the south-west front the Soviet advance is going on and the German losses are particularly high ill sectors where they are counter-attacking. Giving details of the occupation of. Starobielsk, the capture of which was announced yesterday, the report says that very fierce fighting took place in the eastern part of the town. The Germans had trails formed this part of the town into a strongly-fortified centre of resistance. Fierce street fighting took place. OuT men dislogded the enemy * from one house after another and from one district after another. ,

The report praises the collaboration of the Soviet artillery' and infantry. The artillery batteries of one Soviet unit in 10 days fighting, accounted for 2500 Germans and destroyed 40 tanks, four armoured cars, 18 lorries, aqd two planes. The Moscow radio broadcast a report from a correspondent in the area south-west of Velikye Luki, who said that the Soviet troops are wearing down the enemy forces. There.is great activity by Soviet tanks which are smashing gaps in the enemy’s defence line. —British Official Wireless. \