Great Outflanking Move Develops

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 33, 9 February 1943, Page 3

Great Outflanking Move Develops

DONETZ BASIN TRAP Late Russian Communique Reports Capture Of Kursk (New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, February 8. The greatest outflanking battle in the history of warfare appears to be developing in the Russian High Command's threat to encircle the Germans in the Donetz Basin. Moscow correspondents estimate that the number of Germans imperilled by this threat is approximately 300,000, about the number of the Sixth Army which was engulfed at Stalingrad. By making a breach in the Isyum-Liman line and capturing the chemical centre of Kramatorskaya, the Red armies have turned the Germans' northern flank, and Russian spearhead tanks, driving with ever-mounting fury, have turned southward and are within 11 0 miles of Mariupol. They are thus moving in the rear of the Donetz Basin, aiming at the mining town of Gorlovka, 50 miles south of Lisichansk. The Russian thrust, if it materialises, will encircle nearly 20.000 square miles of territory, comprising the Donetz Basin industrial area, inclusive of the' German strongholds of Voroshilovgrad, Stalino and Taganrog, where vast equipment stores have been amassed. The German failure to hold Kramatorskaya is most notable because it controls the railways running into the centre of their Donetz positions. Strategy of Smashing German Communications The Russians are strengthening the positions gained by their thrust southwards and deepening their pincer move as they did before encircling Field-Marshal Paulus* forces at Stalingrad'. General Vatoutin's columns are advancing toward Losovaya, where, following the strategy of smashing the German communications, they aim to grip yet another vital railway junction and threaten the further cutting of the German rail connections westward.

Kharkov is menaced by drives westward which have reached points which are 50 and 60 miles northwards and southwards. Byelgorod, which protects Kharkov from the north, is imminently endangered. A late British Official Wireless message quotes a special Soviet communique announcing that the Russians have occupied Kursk. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the Russians are aiming to cut the chief roads and railways of the German strongholds and thereafter deal with each individually. This strategy, supported by a giant outflanking move southward, will force the Germans to make an early decision as to whether they will defend the Donetz Basin or retire to the Dneiper. The correspondent adds that if the Germans decide to try to hold their Donetz lines they must halt the Russian drives southward and westward—of which there is at present no sign—otherwise, if the Russians cut the Dnepropetrovsk-Stalino railway, which is coming within the ambit of their advance, the Germans will possess for retreat only the main line running south-west from Stalino. Moscow radio says the ring around the Germans trapped south-west of Voronezh is now small. The Germans are not being mopped up, as they are surrendering in droves.