THREAT TO GERMANS IN CAUCASUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 13 January 1943, Page 5

THREAT TO GERMANS IN CAUCASUS

CAPTURE OF KUBERLE (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) Rugby, Jan. 12. The Russian High Command makes no further reference to Kuberle, a town on the Stalingrad-Tikhoretsk Krasnodar railway, the capture of which they announced last night. The capture of Kuberle indicates the increasing threat to the whole German force in the Caucasus, as it is only 50 miles north-east of Salysk, and 130 north-east of Tikhoretsk.

Describing operations generally, a Russian communique supplement states; 'ln the factory area of Stalingrad our storm detachments destroyed enemy fortifications. In the lower Don area our troops continued the offensive. “The enemy, in attempts to stem our advance, is launching counter-attacks by large forces of tanks and infantry. In one sector the enemy concentrated 40 tanks and launched several counterattacks, all of which were beaten off Seventeen enemy tanks were destroyed and 300 Germans were killed.

“On the central front the enemy south-west of Velikiyeluki, despite huge losses already sustained here, continues to throw large forces into the battle. Our troops are repelling enemy attacks and inflicting heavy losses. “In the northern Caucasus our troops are continuing the offensive. When our troops occupied Mineralnievodi two trains carrying troops and supplies were waiting at the station. The troops were annihilated and the supplies captured. On another sector of the same front our troops, having broken the enemy’s defence line, advanced twelve miles.”—B.O.W.

“SAME DIRECTION AS BEFORE” (Rec. 9.20 a.m.) London, Jan. 12. A Russian morning communique states: “During last night our troops in the lower Don, central sector, and in the north Caucasus area continued to wage fighling in the same direction as before. Our pilots sank a 5000-ton enemy ship.”—P.A. COMMANDED BY MASLENNIKOV London, Jan. 11. The Russian Army group which captured six Caucasian towns yesterday was commanded by Lieutenant-General Maslennikov.—P.A. OVER WIDE FRONT London, Jan. 11. The Russian capture of Budenovsk (otherwise Prikumsk) shows that the Russians’ victories have extended over a front of 125 miles north of Kislovodsk on the Russian extreme left. Arkhangelskaya, which is one of the district centres captured, lies about 12 miles south of Budenovsk on the road to Georgievsk. Alexandriskaya, another captured district centre, is 10 miles north-west of Georgievsk. Mineralnievodi, on the edge of the great wheatgrowing steppes, is the key to the junction of the Baku-Rostov railway, 19 miles north-westward of Georgievsk. “The Times” Moscow correspondent stresses the difficulties the Russians have encountered in their advance over a network of tributaries of the Kuma and Terek rivers confronting the left wing, natural obstacles on which .he Germans based their defences, while the right wing was able to move rapidly across open country. Never he - less it was remarkable how swiftly they got infantry along the foothills to Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk. The Russians have now crossed almost all the ravined country. Their tactics in rushing rivers was illustrated when they encountered a large concentration of guns, giant mortars, and tanks in a river athwart their advance. The Russians resolutely made a forced assault on the enemy from close quarters, driving him back and capturing quantities of equipment and prisoners.