RUSSIANS OPEN OFFENSIVE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23803, 24 November 1942, Page 5

RUSSIANS OPEN OFFENSIVE

Gains On Both Sides Of Stalingrad ADVANCES OF 40 AND 50 MILES 1 V (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. The Russians report more successes in their offensive north and south of Stalingrad, following last night’s announcement by the Moscow radio that Soviet forces had advanced 40 and 50 miles in the last three days, killing 14,000 Axis troops and capturing 13,000. To-day’s Moscow communique says that two German storm battalions were routed in the north-west sector, and the Russians took much booty. South of Stalingrad the advance continues, with destruction of enemy manpower and material. The Russians have killed 600 more enemy troops and taken 40 guns. Last night’s announcement said: “The Russians advanced initially north and south of Stalingrad. They broke the enemy s defences for a stretch of 20 miles in the Serafimovich area, and also smashed through south of Stalingrad on a 15-mile line, v “The Russians captured Kalach, on the east bank of the Don, the Krivomusginskaya railway station, and also the town of Abganerova, thus cutting on both sides the railway supplying the enemy forces on the east bank of the Don. The Russians in this offensive completely routed six enemy infantry divisions and one tank division. The Russians inflicted further heavy losses against seven enemy infantry divisions and also on two tank and two motorised divisions.”

To-day’s Russian communique also reports that two more German attacks in the factory area of Stalingrad have been driven back. The Moscow announcement appears to herald the end of the long battle for Stalingrad. The Russian force advancing from the north-west along the Don has reached two towns about 40 miles due west of the city, and the force coming from the south has taken a tr.tion 40 miles south-south-west of Stalingrad. A gap of only 30 miles thus separates these forces advancing about 40 miles behind the Germans entrenched in Stalingrad. German reports speak of grandscale Russian action on both sides of Stalingrad, with the object of pinning down the German forces before the winter really begins. They say that fighting is going on to the northwest, with the Russians throwing division after division against the Germans. The Russians are using British and American tanks for the first time in this sector. The Germans also report pehetration behind their lines by single Russian tanks. They say that conditions to the south are the same. Referring to the Russian attack, the “Daily 'Express” says: “This tremendous victory means that the Russians now hold a threatening position in the rear of the whole German army engaged at Stalingrad. Kalach, 40 miles west of Stalingrad, is the main German supply base.” Before the Russian announcement was received in London, messages from Berlin, Rome and Vichy radios had ad- ■ mitted Soviet attacks at various points along the line. • f , ' The Official German- News Agency repeats the German spokesman’s an- ■ nouncement that the Russians 1 have begun an offensive on the southern front. The news agency states: “The Russians launched attacks at Serafimovich, at Krasnoarmeisk (20 miles south of Stalingrad), and in the upper

Terek area. The Russians’ attacks near Serafimovich were with several rifle divisions and a number of tank brigades. Bitter fighting developed. A Russian cavalry regiment penetrated the Axis lines to attack from the rear, but it was wiped out. This, and the attack from Krasnoarmeisk, were intended as an enveloping, movement for the relie: of Stalingrad. They were carried out with most powerful forces, but they were beaten hack.” The Russians are retaining the initiative in the Nalchik area, which ceaseless rains have converted into a sea of mud, and they are attacking the hew Axis defence lines. Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow reports that one Red Army unit drove a wedge into the ■German positions, threw back counterattacks against its flanks, and forced the-enemy to retreat. This correspondent estimates the Axis losses In the 90-day battle for Stalingrad at 150,000 killed and 1200 tanks and 1500 aeroplanes destroyed.