EIGHTY-ONE DAYS

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

EIGHTY-ONE DAYS

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE Hundred Thousand Square Miles Liberated , N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 8. The Red Army has liberated 100,000 square miles of territory since the opening of the winter offensive, 81 days ago, says Reuters Moscow correspondent. They have cleared Hitler's all-conquering armies from the great triangle of the Stalingrad-Azov-Mosdok area. They have regained complete control of the left bank of the Don from Kalach to the Sea of Azov, a distance of 280 miles. Ski detachments are playing a prominent part in the breaking up of the elaborate system of German defence lines between Kursk and Orel, and the Russian commanders are using them with great skill. Reserve battalions of ski troops are being held on the entire front line in readiness for calls. By-Passing Tactics On the Kursk sector the Russians have advanced about twenty miles beyond the high tide of their offensive a year ago, and they are pushing on to the strongholds established by the Germans in 1941, m the Orel-Kursk-Bielgorod-Kharkov areas, and successfully held by them througnout last winter. Similarly the capture of Kramatorskaya is typical of the by-passing tactics which have lately proved so fruitful. ■ • The Germans expecting a frontal assault on the Donetz Basm, but General Vatoutin, flinging out advanced columns on his left across the Donetz at Isyum, m the no l towestern corner of the area, turned east and Kramatorskaya along the l am y from the west. South of the Don the enemy bridgehead has been entirely clearer the Russians confront the southern flank of the Donetz Basm along the Gulf of Taganrog, which is geneially frozen at this season. 4 daring motor cycle raid on a larg i scale is also- reported from Mos sw. Russian forces bioke

through the enemy's defences and attacked three regimental headquarters, killing several thousand men and capturing much booty. Moscow radio, describing the capture of the steel and chemical centre of Kramatorskaya, between Kharkov and Stalino, says: "Although the general line of the Russian advance was from north to south, the town actually fell to the attack from the south. The Germans brought up fresh forces, including much artillery, and strongly fortified the town with anti-tank and antiinfantry obstacles. A frontal attack would have cost us heavy losses. Russian infantry and tanks by-passed strong points and attacked the town from the south and took it by assault. The Germans stubbornly resisted and street fighting was most- violent." More Towns Captured A Russian' communique says: "Russian forces in the Ukraine captured Savitsi, between Kharkov and Isyum, and five other towns, including Petrovskoe and Protopovskaya, which are respectively seven and 12 miles north-west of Isyum and Kamyshevakha, on -the Kupyansk railway, 22 miles north of Lisichansk. "In the Rostov area we occupied Kagalnik and Olginskaya, 10 miles southward of Rostov. "Northwards of Kursk the Russians occupied Fatej."