THREAT TO ROSTOV

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 25, 29 December 1942, Page 5

THREAT TO ROSTOV

RUSSIANS 70 MILES AWAY LONDON, Dec. 28. Moscow reports show that the Russian army is now a little more than 70 miles from Rostov. The railway town of Millerovo is practically encircled, and a village two miles to the east has been captured by the Russians. Other Soviet forces are closing in from the east on the town of Kamensk, about 50 miles south of Millerovo.

After 12 days the Hussi.in offensive is still going strong and there is no sign of any big German stand, though many fierce fights of a local nature have taken place. • Correspondents point out that in their bold stroke the Russians have the key town of Rostov as their objective, the capture of which would prevent supplies reaching the German armies in the Caucasus. The correspondents point out that as important as the area recaptured in the Middle Don offensive are the enemy's casualties in men and materials. Over 100,000 men have been killed or taken prisoner, and the total number .of wounded would equal several divisions, while vast quantities of war material have been captured. South-west of Stalingrad the Russians report another advance of 10 miles, and 1000 more enemy troops have been wiped out.

In the Caucasus the Russians are still making progress in spite of bad weather.