GERMANS FOILED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 24, 28 December 1942, Page 5

GERMANS FOILED.

SKILFUL RUSSIAN TIMING

'(N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 27. The skilful timing by the Russians of their various attacks along the main battle front from north-west Russia down to the Caucasus ha>it is stated in London, so far foiled all attempts by the Germans to develop any really telling counter-attacks. One counter-attack from southwest of Stalingrad, designed to relieve the German Army surrounded between the Volga and the Don, succeeded in reaching the Aksai River, but has since been driven back to its original jumping-off point somewhere in the neighbourhood of Kotelnikovo. Here the fiercest fighting rages day and night, according to a Moscow message. The Germans continue to bring up reserves, but the Russians apparently continue to bar the way in this important and vulnerable area.

The Russians’ rapid advance in the Middle Don has now cut the railway depots and, as the Russians have also cut the line from Stalingrad to Dikii ay a at Tatsinskaya, in the Don Bend, all the German troops east of this point must now be cut off from supplies by railway. A Moscoav message says that the Germans at Tatsinskaya attempted a determined resistance, but the Soviet tanks outflanked the station, cutting the railway from the west as well as splitting the defending forces. Tho Germans counter-attack-ed, attempting to break through to the westward, but Avere repelled. Thev then tried to batter a way southward, but were routed. The Red Army is moving rapidly and has practically encircled Millerovo. —Official Wireless. PROMISING PROGRESS.

A London cable states: The Soviet armies continue to advance everywhere and are making promising strategic gains. Moscow correspondents say that General Vatoutin’s forces, after a capturing Tats.i nskaya and cutting the Sta-lingrad-Rostov railway, aro approaching a position whence they will be able to threaten Rostov, 100 miles away. The Germans have created a strong supply base at Rostov.

General Golikov’s troops, after v/idelv breaching the German defences north of Millerovo, arc driving deeper into the Ukraine, which is, Hitler’s vaunted “eastern wall.” Soviet tanks and infantry are steadily streaming through the breach aiid fanning out in the rear of the German fortifications. They are now reported to be 36 miles north-east of Voroshilovgrad. The Russians south-west of Stalingrad after bitter fighting are still beating back German efforts to relieve' von Hoth. Their recapture of eight villages 38 miles north-east of JCotclnikovo, which the Germans seized in the early stages of the attempt brings the Russians to the neighbourhood of the Don. Simultaneously there are encouraging Russian advances in the Caucasus in the neighbourhoods of Nalchik and Tuapse.