SOVIET CHRISTMAS BOX

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 22, 24 December 1942, Page 5

SOVIET CHRISTMAS BOX

HITLER'S SHARP SETBACK l LONDON, Dec. 23. The Soviet forces are piling up a Christmas box for Hitler in the shape of the sharpest setback he has had since he invaded Russia. Their tanks have broken through the enemy defences on the Middle Don front. A correspondent in an area somewhere north of Millerovo says that the whole of the northern part of the #reat Bon bend is now in Russian hands. German picked Troops are attempting to hf?h t rearguard actions but are being wiped out systematically.

The Russians arc steadily increasing the threat to Millerovo from the north and from the River Cliir. In one area the Russians have encircled two battalions of Germans, numbering 2400, who are being annihilated. South-west of Stalingrad in the Kotelnikovo arca'there is heavy fighting. The enemy has launched further counter-attacks, but they have been thrown back.

The Russians are tightening theii grip in the Veliki Luki and Rzhev sectors, where German counterattacks have been repulsed.

ANOTHER BIG GAIN. A special announcement from Russia to-night says that the Soviet troops have advanced another 20 miles on the Middle Don, taken more towns and captured more prisoners, bringing the total to 36,000. The names of places given in the announcement indicate that the Russians are forming a semicircular lino north of Millerovo. A correspondent says that the Soviet's chief aim is to maintain the momentum of the advance. In the places captured there are clear signs that the Germans had prepared them as winter quarters and that accounts for the enormous quantities of war supplies being captured. The German death-roll mounted by 8000 as a result of to-day's fighting. Some observers say that the German position is thought to be so critical that they may have to abandon their attempts to bring relief to their entrapped armies in the Stalingrad area. RUMANIA'S BIG MISTAKE. Tho British United Press corrcpon<lcnt from the Stalingrad front says tens of thousands of Rumanians arc being rounded up after fierco fighting near the Don where the Rumanian losses were comparable with thoso at Odessa and Sevastopol. "The Rumanians treated tho Russian prisoners most brutally, but from what I saw, tho Russians do not boar theso dupes any hatred. They feed and clothe them. A Rumanian divisional commander said: 'lt was a great mistake for Rumanians to enter the war against the Russians who havo always boon our allies and it will probably result in Rumania's downfall. The Rumanians as a whole oppose the alliance with Germany, whose only supporters are tho Iron Guards. "A Russian peasant woman, who lost two sons and had a daughter carried off to Germany, when asked why she was feeding two Rumanians replied. 'lt is not their fault. Only one man is guilty of our misfortunes —Hitler.' "