STEAM-ROLLER TACTICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 23 December 1942, Page 5

STEAM-ROLLER TACTICS

RUSSIANS PRESSING ON LARGE TOWNSHIP CAPTURED (Rec. 12.10 p.m.) London, Dec. 22. The Russians’ two-pronged advance on the middle Don front is still steadily pressing the enemy back on a broad front, despite the fact that Germans and Italians in some sectors have recovered sufficiently from the first shock of the offensive to group their forces for counter-attacks. Russians in the first week of advance on the Middle Don made progress varying from 60 to 90 miles.

The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says the Russians in the first six days of the offensive occupied approximately 6000 square miles between the Don and Chir rivers and the Voronej-Rostov railway. Combined Russian forces after swinging south in the direction of the junctions of the Voronej-Rostov and the Stalingrad-Kharkov railways are continuing the pursuit of the shattered enemy over roads and ditches littered with corpses, broken guns, wrecked tanks and vehicles.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent declares that the Russian drive appears to be irresistible. A large township was captured after an eight-hour battle. There is no indication yet whether the town is Millerovo.

Germans and Italians are rolling back westwards and south-westwards in some sectors in disorder. They are trying in some areas to create hastily fortified islands of resistance, but the Russians in their onward sweep are bypassing or crushing them with steamroller tactics.—8.0. W.