MANY MILES ADVANCED

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15235, 28 December 1942, Page 3

MANY MILES ADVANCED

RUSSIANS ON DON FRONT GERMAN PLANES CAPTURED. BOMBER-OFFENSIVE FAILS. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 26. In the past eleven days the Russians on the central Don front have advanced from 92 to 125 miles and captured 56,000 prisoners a s well as enough war material to equip several divisions. They are sweeping on to Kamensk where the V oronej-Rostov railway crosses the Don. On. one airfield captured there were 600 planes while a further 50 were found loaded on a train. This indicates th© rapidity of the Russian advance. The Germans ad'e no better prepared for winter than last year, say -j the British United Press’ Stalingrad correspondent. German prisoners are half-starved, ill-clad and grovelling, sharply contrasting with their former cockiness. Last year prisoners said: “W© are fighting for a greater Germany.” This year:

“We ar© soldiers. We must figfit to defend Germany.” The Russians are steadily closing in around Millerovo. They have taken Grekove, 10 miles westward of Millerovo, and also Malolievskaya railway station 10 miles from the city and on the Vorosbilovograd railway.

A Soviet special communique last night announced the defeat of a German counter-offensive south-west of Stalingrad, which was aimed at relieving the encircled German army. Further progress was made in the middle Don area especially around Mfillerovo. Tlie enemy concentrated six divisions, including three armoured, in tin* Kotelnikovo area. At first, having superior numbers, the enemy advanced and occupied several places. Tlie Russians, however, wore them down and eventually threw them back about 14 miles. In the Caucasus more places were taken in the Alagair area between Ozlionjlvidze and Nalchik. The recapture of Alagir restores to the Russians control of the north-west entrance to the Ossetian military road across the Caucasus, which is valuable. when the pass is free from snow. The road connects Orzhonikidz© with Kutais in Western Geor- . gia.