IN RETREAT

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

IN RETREAT

GERMANS’ HEAVY LOSSES.

LARGE PLACE RETAKEN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, Dee. 22. A Moscow communique says that last night the Red Army dislodged the enemy from a large inhabited locality. The enemy losses in men and material con-

tinue to be exceptionally heavy

Russian troops of General Vatoutin’s force are now about 10 miles

from the key railway junction of Millerovo, it is learned in Lon-

Thc Germans arc reported to lie rushing up fresh reserves from behind the battlefield and sending them into furious counter-attacks in a bid to stop the rot, but correspondents say that the powerful Soviet blows are growing more effective, and some units have advanced nearly 100 miles in the week. Some islands of resistance are being smashed or.by-passed by tlie strong Soviet formations, which arc said to be applying new methods based on their experience in the campaign of last winter. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: “As the Germans retreat in a condition of partial disorder they are staging fierce counter-attacks which arc being brushed aside by the sheer weight of men and metal.” The Moscow radio said the Germans at some points are retreating in panic, and suffering heavy losses. The German High Command spokesman, General Dittmar, broadcasting over the Berlin radio, declared tliat the Russian attacks in the Terek area of the Caucasus, and on the Knlmilk steppes are directly connected with the Stalingrad fighting, which is also connected with the Russian attacks in the great Don bend. The offensive in the Rzhcv-Kalinin-Toropcts area is geographically separate, but by no means unconnected. “These attacks on the whole far-flung field must be considered as a single large counter-offensive and the year s main battle,” he said. The Stockholm correspondent of the Times savs that unless the Russians on tho Middle Don front arc halted within tho next few days the sole salvation for the German forces and the remnant of the Italian forces appears to bo a further withdrawal from the Don bend, either toward the Donetz basin or southward by routes without railways towards the Lower Don. It can scarcely he expected that tho Russians will be able to capture Millerovo without a bard major battle, which is almost certain.

FIERCE AIR BATTLES. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that now the wind has blown olf the fog which had concealed the movements of the Russians at the beginning of the offensive from the Middle Don, fierce air battles are occurring. The Luftwaffe has flung in massive fleets of fighters and bombers in the effort to check the advance, but the Red Air .Force is also strongly concentrated at this point and Ims sufficient planes to put up a powerful umbrella over the Red Army troops. The Germans, in spite ot all their desperate counter-attacks, are having to fall back step by step to the south-west, but there is every sign that Hitler is moving plenty ol men and material. Increased activity by General yon Hotli against tlio Russian ring between the Don and the Volga has the symptoms of desperate improvisation. Von Hoth had doubtless expected relief and reinforcement, but Moscow correspondents report that his army is being slowly pushed back from tho Don elbow. 'The German High Command says, “The Russians, attacking for days with formidable tank concentrations, succeeded in penetrating the German lines. In order to meet tho threat ' to our flank we retreated to previously prepared positions, thus preventin'' the Russians _ from taking advantage of their initial successes. Fighting continues! with unabated U 'Pho German-controlled Scandinavian Now's Agency, in a statement, admits that the situation is serious for the Germans in the Don sector. “The Russians are subjecting the Italo-Oerman lines to unprecedented pressure, and are still increasing the wci"ht of their attacks,” it said. “'There is at present no question of a catastrophe for the defenders, hut the Russians possess enormous reserves.” /