WHERE AND WHEN TO STOP RETREAT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 3

WHERE AND WHEN TO STOP RETREAT

GERMANY'S PROBLEM

No Strong Line Eastward Of River Dneiper N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright * Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 15. With the Red Army everywhere exploiting the initiative in southern Russia and the German defences spread-eagled until the strongest buttresses have fallen or are tottering, the momentous question arises as to where and when the German High Command will be able to "stop the rot." The Germans admit a retreat to new defences, but a strong line does not exist eastward of the River Dneiper. Dneiper possesses a huge bend which will give the Russians opportunities for outflanking the German salient, as has already been achieved on the Rivers Don and Donetz. Can the Germans Rally? Military commentators are already doubtful whether, if the Russian thrusts continue on the same scale and speed—of which there are no signs of diminution —the Germans can rally even on the Dneiper. Moscow correspondents emphasise that huge German losses of troops which are likely to Increase by scores of thousands in the Donetz Basin and elsewhere, and even more dangerous losses of equipment, which have reached a colossal scale, may prevent their standing on a line hundreds of miles, long. Additionally, says the British United Press, there is bitter disillusionment in the. German Army, which within three months has crashed from a dominating campaign to the humiliation of being driven within a few hours from strongholds which they had months to prepare and which they regarded as permanently German. Troop Replacements The has also lost many thousands of its best and most experienced troops which it will be impossible to replace. It is regarded as significant that numerous German local counter-attacks, despite support by tanks, failed to hold the Russians in any sector. Nevertheless, there is the possibility that despite the apparent collapse of the Germans, due to continual weakening of their lines in order to build up defences in the rear, the Russians may yet encounter fully organised resistance which may test them to the utmost. The Germans may also be preparing a strategic counter-attack aimed at, turning the tables against the Russians when the situation is propitious.

FEROCIOUS BATTLE

Hitler's Order, "Die Rather Than Leave Rostov"

COSSACK ATTACK TURNED TIDE

Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 15. With the recapture of Rostov, the great Don River has been freed from Axis troops over its entire length. When the Russians entered Rostov they found German posters telling the population, "We will not leave Rostov." A Cossack attack from the southeast decided the fate of the city. The Cossacks crossed the mouth of the Don from the Sea. of Azov and attacked from the south-west, taking prisoner hundreds of the enemy. The German command brought up fresh reserves, but failed to stop the Russians. The Soviet newspaper Pravda says the ferocity of the battle increased when Hitler ordered power-fully-equipped reserves of tank forces to die rather than retreat from Rostov. Hundreds of German corpses litter streets, yards and alleys in the city. Many buildings and houses have been destroyed and some are still burning.