BATTLE ON BANKS OF VOLGA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23537, 15 January 1942, Page 5

BATTLE ON BANKS OF VOLGA

Russians Gain More Ground WEDGE DRIVEN IN SOUTH (Received January 14, 8 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. After launching an offensive several days ago the Russians have made a fresh advance in the Staritsa-Rzhev sector, north-west of Moscow. Fierce fighting is proceeding on the banks of the Volga west of Rzhev, where the Russians and Germans have both thrown in reinforcements. Heavy fighting is in progess in the Valdai Hills, north-west of Rzhev. Russian pressure since the capture of Lyudinovo, 40 miles north of Bryansk, is resulting In a wedge being driven between Marshal von List’s and Marshal von Rundstedt’s armies on the southern Moscow and the Ukrainian fronts, says the Kuibishev correspondent of “The Times.” The Germans, he adds, formerly disposed 30 divisions round Bryansk, Orel, Elets, and Kursk, including part of General Guderian’s mechanised forces, which proposed to sweep round Tula, but these forces are now seriously depleted. The German radio’s front-line reporter declared that Germany was short of troops for important positions on the Russian front. The Russians had broken through the German lines and were advancing along a wide sector of the front, but the Germans were holding a strategically important position covering the road along which the enemy would advance. The Official German News Agency said that strong Russian forces succeeded in breaking through the German lines east of Mozhaisk, but the Germans strongly counter-attacked and compelled the enemy to withdraw. Several hundred Finnish soldiers were among the 2000 enemy killed and wounded on the central front yesterday, says the Moscow radio. The roads on which the Russians are moving westwards are littered with hundreds of bodies of Fascist officers and men. German lorries, cars, and artillery stand in long lines; ammunition is scattered everywhere, and undamaged guns are immediately turned against the Germans who abandoned them. “Izvestia’s” correspondent in the Crimea reports that the enemy is clinging to his defences, and is mainly striving to disengage and retrench. The Russians are inflicting heavy losses. The Russians have resumed the offensive on the Arctic front and have repelled German attacks on fortifications in (he Rybachi Peninsula. Violent fighting has been in progress for several dav.s in the hills overlooking the peninsula. The Russian Air Force on the Karelian front has been considerably reinforced and is verv active, in spite of the severe cold. Seventy-two degrees of frost has been recorded. Exchange of Diplomatic Staffs. —The United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) said to-day that the United States Department still hoped to arrange an exchange of American diplomatic staffs held in enemy countries. but it involved complicated negotiations.—Washington, January 13.