HEAVY BLOWS BY RUSSIANS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23849, 19 January 1943, Page 5

HEAVY BLOWS BY RUSSIANS

Millerovo Captured

DONETS RIVER CROSSED

(N.Z. Rress Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, January IS. Successful offensive action is being continued by the Russians ali along the front from the Voronezh area down to the Caucasus. As well as capturing the important railway centre and German base of Millerovo, on the Voronezh-Rostov railway, the Russians, according to a Soviet commentator, have crossed the upper Donets at a point about 30 miles east of-Kamenskaya, and about the same distance from the railway junction of Likhaya.

The northern part of the Voronezh-Rostov railway is now almost entirely in Russian hands. Besides Rossosh, they have captured Podogornaya, halfway between Rossosh and Svobody. In their advance in this area the Russians have occupied Alekseevska, on the railway running south-west to Valuiki. Below the lower Don the Russians advancing down the Kuban railway have captured a town 15 miles north-east of Salsk, and are now approaching* the line of the>Manich valley, where the Germans may make a stand. The Russian advance down this N railway may ultimately form the northern arm of a pincers, meeting the Russian drive up the Caucasus railway at Tikhoryetsk. The Russian forces in the Caucasus have captured more inhabited localities, including Kursavka, on the railway to Armavir. Violent fighting is reported to be taking place on the outskirts of a large town.

The German forces trapped before Stalingrad are now reported to have lost at Pitormik their last aerodrome to the Russians, who captured 20 aircraft, 28 tanks, and much other equipment. Only half a day’s, march, it is stated, now separates the Russian troops on the west of the trapped German divisions from those on the east.

The latest list of places taken includes the town s and railway station of Alekseevska, a town in the Korotoyak district, the centre and railway junction of Podogornaya, and in the Caucasus district the centre of KursaVka. Millerovo is 55 miles northeast of Voroshilovgrad. Korotoyak and Podogornaya are respectively 50 and 85 miles southward of Voronezh, on the same line. German Problems Increased Millerovo was taken after stubborn fighting' by the German garrison which endeavoured to break out and was almost completely annihilated. Included in the booty taken by the Russians when they entered the town were 15 aircraft and several trains loaded 'with military supplies. The capture of Millerovo makes more precarious the position of the Germans on the lower Don and Donets river basins. It is the centre of a railway network extending to Voronezh, Rostov, . and Vorolshilovgrad, and also gives the Russians a base for a new drive on Kharkov, The Russians had previously by-passed Millerovo, which the Germans without avail turned into a hedgehog of defence. >.

,The Russians are now actively taking the offensive on a 600 miles' front • from Voronezh to the north Caucasus. Thrusting deeply in a three-pronged drive after their break through oh a' 100 mileS’ front south of Voronezh, the Red Army is exploiting the dangerous defeat the Germans have already suffered. Spearheads of powerful and mechanised divisions, with propeller-driven ammuni-tion-carrying sleighs, sire leading the advance.

Though the latest Russian-’offensive south of Voronezh,-,-,announced in a special Soviet communique, is about 2ST miles morth of Rostov, Tit will certainly play an important part in the impend*’ Ing battle for Rostov. Since many of the places annbunced as having been recaptured by the Russians lie to the west of the hitherto German-held stretch of railway from Svobody to a place 60 mile- to the south, it is probable that the whole of this stretch is now in Soviet hands.

Moscow correspondents, say that after smashing the long-prepared defences the Russians are driving from the Don towards Valuiki, an ant rail junction 70 miles east of Kharkov, which ia- a big German' base. Another Red Army force is advancing westwards against Kupyansk, and a third -force is driving to the north-west after capturing Rossosh. The wings of these forces threaten to pinch out Valuiki. A description of the Russian, breakthrough in the 'new general offensive sotith of Voronezh is given in a supplement to the Soviet communique. "On the right bank of the Don," it states, “our troops who launched the offensive broke through fortifications in some hours and overcame enemy minefields and barbed wire. One Red Army unit routed an infantry regiment, captured 380 prisoners. 16 guns,

The Russians would thus now appear to be in possession of the main Mos-cow-Voronezh-Rbstov line throughout its length southwards to Millerovo. The Russian offensive south of Voronezh bould thus either push westward or south to cut the maze of railway lines north-west of Rostov. In either case, a serious threat would be brought against Rostov itself. Further important progress, however, made by the Russians on the Donetz, the Lower Don, and the Zimovniki fronts, north-east and south-east of the Rostov railway, brings the Russians to within 30 miles of Likhaya, an Important rail juhctioh on the railway south of Millerovo, the capture of which military commentators in London considered was necessary before an attack against Rostov could be launched. A stretch of the railway from Likhaya north-westwards towards Tatsinskaya is reported in a Moscow message to be within range of Russian heavy guns since the capture of Borodino, on the east bank of the northern Donets. Caucasus Advance Continues

The Russians in the Caucasus are keeping up the pressure and there is no question of the Germans “shortening their lines.’’ German attempts to frustrate the Russian advance in the Caucasus have been foiled and the Russians have taken several more fortified points. Russian cavalry is operating far in the rear of the enemy lines. One of the points taken is 80 miles short of Armavir.

A second special Russian communique states: “Between December 25 add January 16, booty captured in the Caucasus included 35 aeroplanes, 314 tanks, 372 guns, 422 mortars, 385,000 shells, 300,000 bombs, and large quantities of lorries, railway equipment, and stores." Berlin radio to-night admitted that Velikye Luki was no longer in German hands. The Soviet Government has instituted new ranks. Marshal of Aircraft, Marshal of Artillery, and Marshal of Armoured Forces.