PINCERS FORMING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1943, Page 5

PINCERS FORMING

MOVE ON ROSTOV

VAST ENCIRCLEMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (HOC. 12.30 jjgj^ Janu _ The Red Army's vast encircling movement is now taking definite shape against Rostov. The Russian victors at Salsk are forming the southern arm of a pincers, and columns are thrusting down from the Donets in the Kamensk region, constituting the northern arm. Berlin radio admits that the Russian attacks are growing in intensity and that the enemy at all focal points on the front are employing vast armies and supplies in an effort to break Moscow correspondents describe the pace of the Russian advance on some fronts as like a whirlwind. . The military correspondent of the "Daily Express," Morley Richards, says that the capture of Armavir and Salsk may compel the Germans to retreat across the Kerch Straits in the German-held Crimean Peninsula. The Germans falling back through the northern Caucasus towards Rostov may also try to escape across the Kerch Straits because the Russian drive from Salsk threatens to close their line pf retreat. The fall of Salsk gravely diminishes the chances of the retreating Germans reaching Rostov. Reuters Moscow correspondent reports that General Golikov's armies on the Voronezh front, after the capture of Tudenny, are 45 miles from Byelgorod, an important junction on the Moscow-Crimea railway via Kharkov, the cutting of which would isolate, the coalfields in the Don Basin and increase the Germans' communication difficulties. General Golikov's columns are also reaching out towards Kursk. The Russians seem to be avoiding the advance via the Don Basin, which is full of towns and villages, many of which have easily-defended stone houses. They are working round north-westwards, possibly aiming at throwing the Germans back to the Dneiper. Simultaneously, .the southernmost Russians are pressing on rapidly to Tikhoretsk, which is an important junction controlling railway communications from Kuban and from Salsk. General Yeremenko's columns moving down the Salsk-Rostov railway have reached Tselina, within 90 miles of Rostov. FOLLOW-UP FROM ARMAVIR. The main Caucasian forces, after the capture of Armavir, are speeding on with a view to menacing the Krasno-dar-Tikhoretsk railway. Other Soviet columns are thrusting across the foothills to Maikop. These advances generally very gravely endanger all the German communications to Rostov. Guerrillas are incessantly harassing the enemy's rear. . The increasing severity of the winter is affecting the character of the fighting, which is practically concentrated on road and railway junctions. The Russian heavy artillery and infantry, despite deep snow, are manoeuvring with great flexibility, and mobile units are closely pursuing the enemy. The Germans constantly put up obstinate resistance, but the continual threat of encirclement enforces ' retreat., Red Army tanks and Cossacks are performing remarkable exploits, notably in the capture of Armavir, where the Germans blew up the ice

attacked Fuiloro and I^oepang,, in Timor, where Tokio radio reports that unrest has grown to such an extent that safety zones have had to be established for the protection of neutral Portuguese nationals against native uprisings. Australian reports state that these native disturbances have been fomented by the Japanese, who admit that the establishment of the new zones may assist to clear out the Australian and Dutch guerrilla troops who are still active on the island.

covering the Kuban River, hoping that the stream would halt the Russian* Tough Kuban Cossacks swam the icy, waters under heavy fire and then engaged the enemy, enabling sappers tor build pontoon bridges. A few hours after the capture of the city - columns of German prisoners in ersatz boot* and clothing wearily marched east? ward with the temperature below zero. Front-line correspondents report that a sense of doom is spreading amon.g the Axis forces, especially Italians, Hungarians, and Rumanians, and that units increasingly surrender en bloc* When surrender is refused the destruction goes on pitilessly.