RUSSIAN PROGRESS

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN PROGRESS

Towards Rostov CROSSING OF THE DONETZ. (Rec. 9.40) LONDON, Jan. IS. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: Russian forces made an advance of four miles and reached Krasnovka; a village a mile from the north bank of the Donetz River, opposite Kamenskaya. A Soviet commentator said Russian forces crossed the upper Donetz at a point about 30 miles east of Kamenskaya, and about the same distance from the'railway junction of Likhaya. It appears that where the Russian forces crossed the Donetz is about 20 miles from the great Donetz: industrial country, and probably somewhere between there and Kamenskaya. East of Kamenskaya, Russians captured villages on the Donetz. from which thev command a lateral railway, eastwards from' Likhaya. Further south, Russians advanced to within twentyfive and thirty-five miles of the large towns of Starobielsk and Valuikj. As the result of the fall of Millerovo, Russians hold the railway from a point fifty miles south of Voronej, up to fifty miles west of the river. Therefore, nearly two hundred miles of this important lateral railway can be used for the transfer of troops and supplies from one position to another. , An Associated Press Agencv correspondent at Moscow said: The Russian offensive on the Voronej front rolled back the German lines fifty miles west of the Don. along the railway to Kharkov.' At least one German division is reported to be virtually encircled between the Don and the new front line. Axis forces while hurriedly retreating are vainlv struggling to mount counter-offensives, and gain time to consolidate new positions. Russians completely control the railway from Voronej to within one hundred miles of Rostov. The northern, part of the VoronejRostov railway is now almost entirely in Russian hands. Besides Rossosh, thev have captured Podogornaya, half-way between Rossosh and Svobody. In their advance in this area the Russians have occupied Alexseevska, on the railway running south-west to Valuiki. The “Daily Express’’ military correspondent ip London, Mr Morley Richards, who is particularly well-in-formed on Russian moves, says: The weight of Russian blows, north of Rostov, proves them to be no diver-

sionary attacks, the advance which carried the Red Armies across the Donetz River developed into an avalanche. It is of such magnitude that the Germans probably decided to retire altogether beyond the Donetz. There are these possibilities in the Russian drive to Rostov: The Red Army pincers, coming from north and east along the lower. Don, may meet to the east of Rostov. The Germans who manage to reach Rostov will not, be safe, because the Russians are getting astride tho communications leading to the rear of the city. A special Soviet communique on Monday evening states: Russians on the south-western front crossed the North Donetz River and occupied the railway station of Kamensk (20 miles north of Likhay). Fighting in the* town of Kamensk is in progress. Russians on the Voronej front routed the fourth Italian Army corps, and occupied the railway station or Kamonka (30 miles west of Kaniemirovka). The town of Ostrogorsk (20 miles south-east of Svoboda) is encircled. The number of prisoners captured on the Voronej front on January 8 was 31,000. Amongst them were 22,000 Hungarians, 7,000 Italians and 2,000 Germans. <

HARDSHIPS OF CAMPAIGN. RUSSIAN NIGHT FIGHTING EFFECTIVE. (Rec. 9.40) LONDON, Jan. 18. Despatches to the press from .Russian fronts illustrate how prodigious efforts are being made by the Red Armies to press on an offensive m the depth of winter. “The Times” Moscow correspo.ilent emphasises that there are u.mculties in moving men, equipment and guns. Guns are being hauled by men waist-deep in snow, and yet lighting has been continued day and night. Most Russian successes have been won in night battles. Kosoch was taken in darkness, while a Dlizzard swept the streets in Kototovak, which crack German regiments were hastily fortifying, they stormed at night time. The Germans desperately resisted, but the Russians isolated them and forced a c ipitulation. Caucasus Campaign FURTHER RUSSIAN GAINS. LONDON, Jan. 18. 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. 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 «u miles short of Armavir. Russians advancing down the Kuban railway captured a town 15 miles north-east of Salsk, and are approaching the line of the Manich Valley. There the Germans may make a stand. The Russian advance down this railway may ultimately form the northern arm of a pincers, meeting the Russian drive up the Caucasus railway at Tikhoryetsk. 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. J Russians crossed the Manych River and occupied the town and railway station of Divnoye (60 miles southwest of Elista). A Russian advance has been made along the railway to the neighbourhood of Proletarskaya, while pursuit of the enemy along the main line has continued to nearly half the way from Georgiesvk to Avrinarvis. Russians occupied the town of Cherkesak, 75 miles due east of Georgievsk. The “Daily Express” military correspondent ?n London, [Mti Morley Richards, says: The trapping of a large part of the German armies in the Caucasus now seems certain. The capture of Millerovo is the crowning triumph. Since the capture of Kotelnikov it means that the two claws of the pincer movement designed to encircle the Germans in Southern Russia, now have few obstacles before them. The Redl Army drives in Southern Russia are part of a mighty plan to destroy the German war machine.

The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ military commentator in London expresses the opinion that .the new Russian offensives almost indicate that Stalin is attempting to secure a decision in the field this Winter. Th e commentator, however, warns the public against under-estimating the' effect of the North African diversion. He says that although the threat on the Mediterranean front is temporarily inactive, the diversion has come at a time when Hitler’s pre-occupations in Russia have reached an increasingly critical stage. (Rec. 9.40) LONDON, Jan. 18. Reuter’s correspondent at i-oscow stated: In Northern Caucasus, Red Army forces reached a point within thirty-seven miles of Voroshilovsk. Stalingrad Sector (Rec. 9.40) LONDON, Jan. 18. Moscow radio reports: Russian forces split German forces in me western sector before Stalingrad. Captured documents revealed tnat disappointment after a failure to relieve the entrapped forces caused bad discipline and malingering, the latter being caused by the knowledge that empty food carrying planes were evacuating the wounded. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated: Loss of territory south-west of Stalingrad has robbed the Germans of numerous airfields whence they have been supplying their .entrapped divisions. German transport planes carried two tons of bread on each flight to the Pitomnik aerodrome outside of Stalingrad. The Russians have captured this aerodrome-, on which they found hundreds of grounded planes. ’ Another twohundred transport planes were among the booty secured at ■ Tatsynskava. Before Stalingrad the Russians are continuing to smash the remnants of the beleaguered Germans. A Soviet communique said: Russians continue to annihilate the surrounded enemy in the factory area. Russian troops dealt a strong blow

against the enemy, and occupied several streets in the southern outskirts of the city. They also dislodged the enemy from some important heights. 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 Germans at last have been informed of the plight of the troops trapped, before Stalingrad. Jhe disclosure was made in a oroadcast o> General Dietmar ,who said that Germans, so far, have learned only or Velikye Luki, as an isolated keypoint.' but the Sixth Army at Stalingrad was in the same position. Russian superiority in numbers and material was their trump card, winch will doubtless be used ruthlessly. The equilibrium of strength on the eastern front at present can be achieved only locally, necessitating the Germans stripping decisive sectors, which is very risky although unavoidable.