SOVIET OFFENSIVE CONTINUES

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15241, 6 January 1943, Page 3

SOVIET OFFENSIVE CONTINUES

MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED SURPRISE MOV H| PUZZLES NAZIS. 15 ALTIO CENTRES BOM 15ED. United Pi ess Assn.—By l.’eetrie Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 5. The Russians continuing their offensive successfully captured three villages forming a powerful German strongpoint in the Central Caucasus said the Moscow radio. The Russians in the Mosdok area seized more fortified hamlets and also captured after fierce lighting several villages south-east of Nalchik. The Soviet Command is concentrating in this area G n giving the retreating Germans no opportunity to organise new defences. On the middle Don front the Russians are overcoming stubborn resistance in the deep zone of German defensive positions guarding the MiUerovo-Voroshilovgrad railways They are swinging their mobile units about in surprise moves and cutting off the enemy’s line of retreat and supply. Although hardpressed Millerov 0 holds out. Pivoting on Velikiye Luki the Russian drives north-west, west, and south-west threatens th e great north and south trunk railway which if not cut, will probably be under the fire o-i Russian guns. The Russian progress is inevitably slow as tb<>. Germans are determined t 0 defend the railway. The Russians’ bombing of the Baltic centres is disturbing German reinforcement traffic.