CUT OFF GERMANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 5

CUT OFF GERMANS

TIMOSHENKO'S PLAN

LAKE ILMEN STRUGGLE

SPEED OE THE ADVANCE (Reed. 11.25 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 2 Marshal Timoshenko is now consolidating his position after his long thrust west of Taganrog, but is throwing the left wing of his army forward in an attempt to cut off the enemy forces along the shores of the Sea of Azov. Moscow radio states that a, terrific struggle is raging round the shores of Lake Ilmen, the Russians tightening their stranglehold on German communications to Novgorod. On the Kalinin front in the last 24 hours the Russians recaptured 10 populated places, killed and wounded over 1000 of the enemy and captured rich booty. The Russians on the central front in the last three days annihilated 4900 Germans and liberated 60 populated points. Guerillas attacked a war prisoners' camp and freed over 200 Russians. 55 Miles Advance A Soviet communique states that during the day enemy centres of resistance were destroyed and Russian troops kept advancing. Seven German aeroplanes were destroyed on Saturday to two Russian. The Red Army has made further progress in the gap smashed in the German lines north-westwards of Moscow, says the Kuibyshev radio. The Russians on the southern front in the last-few days have advanced 55 miles and liberated 20 more localities. The number of German deserters is increasing. Prisoners state that the fighting morale of the Germans has decreased and that they are not getting sufficient ammunition and foodstuffs. The Germans on the Sebastopol front are again on the defensive, being subjected to incessant harassing from the Russian garrison. The Germans have been obliged to stiffen the sulking Rumanian regiments in the Crimea. The Rumanians are complaining of the length of the war, and this leads to clashes between Rumanian and German troops. Parachute Division Destroyed The official organ of the Red Army, Red Star, claims that the Russians are now advancing at a faster pace than that of Hitler's drive last autumn. In the Leningrad sector scores of enemy blockhouses were destroyed on Sunday. The Russians claim to have destroyed a German parachute division recently transferred to the eastern front from Greece. > ~ ~ ~ It is learned from an authoritative source in Moscow that the Russians announce victories several days late and sometimes at a much longer interval, iu order not to give information to the enemv whose communications are disrupte'd. The radio remains the sole enemy means of communication, as guerillas in advance of the Soviet units are working havoc in the enemy rear. Task of Annihilation Red Star says the Soviet offensive has already forced the Germans to send 13 new divisions to the eastern front, although Hitler had sought to avoid sending up reserves until ready for action \i the spring. The more numerous reserves the Germans utilise before the spring, the greater will be the advantage to the Soviet forces as they will then have vast reserves, while Hitler's will be scant. The annihilation of German manpower, is the most important task. Speed is also *s&J?£ cause it forces the enemy to abandon equipment, especially tanks, and also does not give the Germans time to strengthen second and third lines ol defence.

EIRE AND ULSTER

CO-OPERATIVE ACTION

CHECK ON I.R.A. TERRORISTS (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) BELFAST, Feb. 2 Eireann and Ulster political police have exchanged important dossiers on I.R.A. terrorism, comprising information collected by both Governments over 20 years. The Ulster police on the border are checking the identity papers ot all travellers. The civil guard is also making a check on the Eireann side. A special watch is kept on cyclists on the Donegal-Derry frontiers, which has long been suspected as a possible channel for vital information for the Italian and German legations in Dublin. American officers have warned the troops not to talk to strangers on military matters. Fifty members of the I.R.A. on "anuary 24 started a hunger-strike m the Belfast prison, where 200 are interned for the duration of Ten are still continuing the hungerstrike. They allege that privileges have been curtailed.