RUSSIAN ENCIRCLING MOVE CONTINUES

Grey River Argus, 26 November 1942, Page 5

RUSSIAN ENCIRCLING MOVE CONTINUES

ENEMY’S DANGER GROWING GREATER

BOTH IN STALINGRAD AND CAUCASUS

Further Heavy Losses Being Sustained

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, Nov. 24. . The Associated Press Moscow correspondent declared tnat the Ked , Army’s advance is sweeping on from six to 12 mines daily, despite fierce further German reinforcements._ The Russians claim that 12,000 < more German dead have been left on < the battleflld and that 11,000 more ! ntisoners have been taken, bringing ' the total number of prisoners in the ■ present offensive to 24,000. On Monday Russian forces captured five ■ towns in an advance of up 'to 12 miles. ~ , In London it is considered that tne i capture of twenty-four thousand pf} s_ ‘ oners so far. is an especially promising aspect of the offensive, indicating i the Germans have been less capable « than the Russians of enduring 'the i physical and mental test of three months’ arduous siege. The German J nosition becomes more perilous as the Russians widen and deepen their t thrusts on either side of the German i salient, stretching to Stalingrad. j Between the two Russian van- j guards north-west and south-west of Stalingrad is estimated at be ween . 60 and 70 miles. There can he hardly more than forty miles between j the Russians at Kalach and those who have been hammering at the strong - German left flank immediately uortn- ; west of Stalingrad. It is thought < the enemy mav have begun some : time ago to try to disengage iorcea • between the two rivers, while main* ■ taining a oretence of attacking tstai- i ingrad. If 'this is so, there must be a very large concentration inside tne Russian pincers. Hitler may avoid confessing total failure by keeping 1 troops in forward positions through : the winter and supplying them through a narrow neck as he did Rzhev. The risks would be very i great. In any case the Russian an-1. vance is not yet stemmed , on ?itner wing. It is recalled that Hitlei s m’omise on September 30 to take Stalingrad was precise and uncondt- : tional. Wider perspectives are suggested bv the fact that the Russians , are onlv‘l7o miles from Rostov, while < the German invaders before Giozny ; are 350 miles from Rostov. It is recalled that great Russian movements : planned last year against the whole i German concentration before Moscow were not completely fuinliea, though the enemy only narrows avoided catastrophe. A clearer picture of the Russian offensive is now available, though there is still no certainty about _ tne details owing to the paucity or information that can be safely released by the Soviet Command. . To-day’s German communique admits that the Russians in the great Don bend and south-west of Stalingrad have penetrated the Axis defensive front. Hones aroused in the Allies by tne Russians’ new success are expressed bv “The Times”: In the mounting Allied offensive which has begun to determine the course of the war in both Hemispheres, the Russian armies are already taking a share worthy or their ■ predominant part in the most recent phases of the defence. Russian Thrust PROCEEDS ACCORDING TO PLAN. AIMED TO CUT OFF ENEMY IN i CAUCASUS. (Rpo. 5.5 ) LONDON, Nov. 24. “The Russians’ two-pronged thrust north-west and south of Stalingrad is plunging deeper into the enemy’s flanks, its tempo being maintained, and proceeding according to a careful strategic plan,” according to “The Times’s” Moscow correspondent. “The plan aims at undermining the position of the German armies in the Caucasus, as well as to relieve Stalingrad. Soviet newspapers point out that the Allies share in the Russians’ successes, because their operations in North Africa increased strategic dim. culties for Axis’ armies. The newspapers, however, warn against any tendency to minimise the stern tasks that are still ahead on the Don-Volga front The Russians are very familiar with the German resilience and thendefensive fighting power. The Russians are aware that the l Germans are massing reserves. They also are aware that the element of surprise is no longer helpful. German forces within a : n area which the Russians are hoping completely to encircle were reported to be caught yesterday in serious -and dangerous positions, sometimes in panic and sometimes surrounded. Nearly everywhere, retreating Germans are losing weaker elements, like Rumanians, who are surrendering in thousands. Russian artillery, including masses of sellpropelling guns, played a very imHSi'l Sari in initial ■>« “J break through south of Stalingrad which is carrying Russian forces down a railway towards Kotelnokovo and towards the Don along a highway whereby Russians yesterday reached Times’ Stockholm correspondent says’ “The German position is verv serious. It may become disasfrousßut all of the Axis troops threatened with an envelopment b tween the Don and the Volga not yet attempting t° withdraw. A decision as to their fate is likely to require long, hard fighting, because they have accumulated large dumps of ammunition, and possibly of lood near their frontlines. Russian Success Predicted i;n, circling movement. (Rec. 11.20.) LONDON. Nov. 25. Groat possibilities of the Russian offensive are being emphasised py London commentators. The “Daily Express militarv writer, Mr , Morley Richards,, says that he “has the best authority for asserting that the Russian encircling movement will succeed, and that its completion will entail a military disaster for Hitler greater than any that has befailed his army during the war. There is also another prpblem, much pf v/hi'eri he mav find insoluble, the relief of his army in the Caucasus. One of the svpo.lv lines of that army is cut, and its flank is now open to attack. VERY HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES 160,000 IN FEW DAYS. (Rec. 11.20) LONDON, Nov. 25. A message from Moscow says:— The speed of the Russian advance is increasing everywhere. It is estimated that besides forty-two thousand dead, the Germans have lost at least one hundred and twenty thousand wounded in the last few days.

Russian Northern Pincer 110 MILES WEST OF STALINGRAD LONDON, Nov. 24. In their offensive on the nortn and south flanks of Stalingrad, the Russ ans took more places north-west of Stalingrad, pursued the retreating enemy south of the city with tanks, and captured seventeen pillboxes in: the factory area. The two thrusts have apparently made about equal progress. Starting on the north flank of Stalingrad front, on a narrow front from Serafimovich on the Don J above Keltskaya. Russian forces advanced south-westwards some fifty miles to Cheryshevakaya’. Thus they are about 110 miles due west of Stalingrad. 170 miles north-east of Rostov and thirty miles north of the Kharkov-Stalingrad railway. A Moscow communique, referring to the north-west sector says: “Our troops smashed enemy resistance and occupied a number of populated places. One unit smashed nine German tanks and another unit smashed 13 tanks and captured six. Booty continues to pile up and prisoners are pouring in.” Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says latest Soviet reports as showing that German forces are retreating, and indeed, are fleeing precipitately southwards from Chernyshevska, which is 110 miles west of Stalingrad. He says: The Germans are obviously making hdlter skelter for the nearest way out of the Soviet tentacles, it i there is still time. The latest re-, port shows German divisions are| heading for the banks of the South-> ern Don, but may find their retreat cut off. Both armies are interlocked at some noints, with obvious dangers. The Russians appear to have the Hun on the run. the Soviet Command intends to keep him on the run as long as possible. • The Associated Press Moscow correspondent stated: With the capture of Chernyshevska the Russians are 80 miles across the Don. Yesterdav’s r°ports placed the westernmost, point of the advance at only 50 miles from Stalingrad. Some observers say the capture of Chernvshevskaya, suggests the Marshal Timoshenko i is planning a huge sween south. to Rostov with the object of hemming in not only German forces m the' Don-Volga area, but also the whole of the large Axis forces in the Caucasus. North Pincer’s Progress 1 FURTHER CAPTURES (Rec. 11.20) LONDON. Nov 25. A Soviet communique stated.— North-west of Stalingrad the Red Army continued -to forge ahead. One unit captured a fortified st £?ngho ld ’ prisoners and equipment. Pursui g the' enemv in another sector northwest of Stalingrad, Russians captured 21 tanks, of which eight were in working order, also 32 guns, 30 mortars and much other booty. Southern Thrust 50-MILE ADVANCE. >' " LONDON, Nov. 24. The Russian thrust on the south flank of Stalingrad starting from steppe country about fifty-five miles south of Stalingrad appears to have advanced about fifty miles north-west-wards, crossing the Stalingrad-Kha kov railwav just east of the. bridge, and taking Kalach. In tnei southern advance the Russians f°tigb a series of separate engagements and have not had time to assess the: g era! effect of their success. In a village the Germans were caught unprepared. The Russians killed 1000 ‘ officers and men and destroyed 70 lorries and 25 aircraft on the ground. deStr T °h V : d A 1 S 4 S oelS Press Moscow corEh ‘sf sKJrad. bispotches irorn Jnlboxes over the whole area south ofl fr I erad Long columns of enemv I fives are moving eastwards smvering in the intense cold. Some pr oners have covered their h u, 1 k _ bodies w’th ragged shawls and Lian ets Moscow “Red Star” says: “Russians in the Kalmuk steppes route two German div sions on of which had only recently armea, complete with new efloipjnent. Twelve thousand members pf both div . fled, abandoning their arms and a munition.” FURTHER RUSSIAN ADVANCE SOUTH OF STALINGRAD. (Rec. 12.10) LONDON. Nov A Soviet communique stated. ! South of Stalingrad Russians successfully advanced, and occupied <• 1 number of inhabited localities, a inflicted enormous losses. One unit ‘ wiped out two thousand troops m , 24 hours, and destroyed 33 armou e.d cars arid 20 guns. At Stalingrad ' TANK BATTLE IN PROGRESS. LONDON, Nov. 24. Moscow reports say the defenders of Stalingrad are forging ahead m the factory area, and that 1000 g mans were killed in an all.-day cat • The Russians cleared the enemy from 17 blockhouses and seized guns ana ta The British United Press Moscow correspondent says that a big tan-, battle is in progress around btann °rad I 3 Reuter’s correspondent reports that the Russians ferried across the .freezing Volga tens of thousands of mian ■ trymen and also tanks, puns, and lor- > ries for a Stalingrad push. OFFENSIVE IN STALINGRAD. RUSSIANS REPORT GAINS. (Rec. 12.28.) LONDON. Nov. 25. A Soviet communique stated: The . Red Army on Fridav night continued > a successful offensive before Stalin- . grad. In the factorv area, of Stalin- . grad, Russian forces continued active t operations. On the southern out- • skirts of the city, Russians occupied several fortified positions and heights

after killing four hundred enemy troops. German Caucasus Army MAY HAVE TO ABANDON CAUCASUS (Rec. 11.20) LONDON, Nov. 25. The “Daily Mail” says: Germany’s entire Caucasian Army stands in ultimate jeopardy. But this is only a beginning. Russian forces are astride two railways supplying German armies, and a drive by the Red Army down these railways to the River Don would confront enemy with a terrible dilemma. The Germans will have either to stand and face encirclement, or to abandon the Caucasus altogether and retreat as best they can through the narrow gate of Rostov, or the even more perilous exit of Kerch Strait. Caucasus Front ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED ( Re C . 12.10) LONDON, Nov. 25. A Soviet communique stated: in one sector south-east of Nalchik there was an Axis attack. It was repulsed with heavy losses German tanks, supported by infantry attempted to break through in a sector in the Maikop area, but w'ere driven back with a loss of two hundred killed. OPERATIONS NORTH OF MOSCOW (Rec 12.10) LONDON, Nov. 25. A ' Soviet communique stated: Russian detachments north-west of Moscow wiped out a company German infantry. /There was a counter-attack by a German battalion. It was repulsed. SOVIET AND BRITAIN. ROW RUGBY, November 24_ M. Molotov, replying to friendly greetings from Mr Eden, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of we 'USSR exDresses the hope that the comradely relations between the two ncooles would be devoted after the vXy to the task of re-establishing the peaceful life: of the nations. M, Molotov adds: The record victory of the British arms in the st, u e>gJ- e ! against the common enemv strengt i ens still further the feeling of warlike comradeship uniting our peonies, and brings nearer the dav of a smashing blow against Hitlerite tyranny.