KEY TOWN OF MILLEROVO

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 21, 23 December 1942, Page 5

KEY TOWN OF MILLEROVO

RUSSIANS DRAW NEAR LONDON, Dec. 22. . The central point of the fiercest fighting in Russia is near the key town of Millerovo. clue north of Rostov. Reports from Moscow give no details of tlie fighting, but correspondents say that the Soviet forces are still pressing forward and, though the Germans are rushing up reinforcements, they have had no effect.

The Germans are being seriously hampered by the loss of communications. Russian guerrillas are reported to lie operating with deadly effect in the enemy’s rear.

The Russians have dealt so severely with the Luftwaffe that General von Kessclring is reported to be trying to pull it together again. In the Stalingrad area the Germans are counter-attacking, but without success.

The Moscow radio, quoted by the Official Wireless, stresses the fact that the Russians in their advance on the Don front dislodged the enemy from positions where the Axis intended to dig in for the winter.

The enemy had accumulated large supplies there, and the report says that much booty has been captured. The Germans are unable to hold out against the pressure of the Russians and are retreating, although they arc still making every effort to stem the Soviet advance.

MORE IMPORTANT GAINS. A special Moscow announcement says that the Russians gained more successes to-day on the Middle Don and captured a number of important places, including Knmensk, a town on the railway south of Millerovo. If such is the case it repres-

ents a big Russian advance. Since the offensive began a week ago the Russians claim to have captured 108 tanks, 1600 guns of all calibres, 2400 machine-guns, 6700 trucks, 6500 horses, and 82 food and supply centres. Moscow says that all day to-day the cnomv was in disorderly retreat, and in the fighting 7000 Germans were killed and about 7000 taken prisoner. In heavy fighting south-west of Stalingrad enemy counter-attacks were repulsed, one posting 1000 men, 60 tanks, 21 guns, and 61 trucks.