RUSSIAN ARMIES DRIVING FORWARD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 8, 11 January 1943, Page 3

RUSSIAN ARMIES DRIVING FORWARD

THREAT TO ROSTOV

New Units Outdo Germans

At Blitz Warfare

N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 10. After 53 days of their successful offensive, the Red armies are increasing their threats tq Salysk and Rostov, which are most important Axis key points if the Germans are to extricate their forces from the Kuban steppes. These forces are estimated to number 300,000. The Germans are hurling in numerous reinforcements in counterattacks, but are unable to stem the relentless Russian thrusts. Moscow correspondents say the Russian advance northward and southward from the Don is now averaging 15 miles a day despite the resistance of 30 German divisions. The Russians, after overcoming numerous strong German defences with much artillery and many antiinfantry obstacles, reached Ustkagaln Etsky, 45 miles eastward of Shaktui, on the Voronezh-Rostov railway. The Red armies are progressing more swiftly southwards, where, after the occupation of Simovniki on Friday, they smashed onward another 35 miles. Thirty-two Points Captured Twenty-five German divisions are battling in the North Caucasus and in the neighbourhood of Novorossisk, but the Russians, driving on, captured 32 towns and villages. They have already closed the gap between the armies advancing from Kalmukia and the* North Caucasus to 30 miles.

The Russians are also threatening Salysk from Martynovka, 50 miles northward, and from Veselyi, 32 miles north-westward. This thrust enhances the importance to the Germans of Tikhoretsk as a line of withdrawal from the Caucasus.

The Russians are 120 miles from Tikhoretsk. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the German defence triangle in the area of Georgievsk, Pyatigorsk and Miniralnyevodi, on the MosdokRostov railway, is in danger of collapse, due to Russian drives which have reached Zolskoe, Etoka and Alexandrovskoi. Zolskoe is 16 miles from Pyatigorsk. Etoka is five miles from the junction of the railway to Prikumsk. Alexandrovskoi was strenuously defended, but the Germans abandoned it after flank blows by the Russians. Thirty-two Miles from Salysk Having reached Veselyi, the Russians are 32 miles from Salysk. Other forces are fanning out from Simovniki and advancing northwestwards towards the south bank of the Sal, apparently with the object of linking up with General Rokossovy's forces, which are standing on the north bank of the Sal after sweeping across the Don at Tsymlyanskaya. After smashing the biggest German counter-attack thus far on the Lower Don, the Russians advanced another eight miles and reached Trofimov, ten miles from the Donetz River and Stalingrad western railway. A Russian column, advancing along the right bank of the Don beyond Nikolayevskaya, captured Bogayavlenskaya, 19 miles from the confluence of the Don and Donetz. Reuters Moscow correspondent declares that the Red Armies in South Russia have beaten the Germans at blitz warfare. Russian mechanised units played the chief part throughout the Don-Caucasus offensives. They belong to new armies which have been trained since the outbreak of the war with the Axis, and have proved that tanks can be employed most successfully in winter time.