NAZI UNITS ROUTED

Southland Times, Issue 24649, 22 January 1942, Page 5

NAZI UNITS ROUTED

REMNANTS FLEE IN DISORDER RUSSIAN GUARDS IN ACTION (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. While a fierce battle is reaching its climax in the vicinity of Mojaisk both the northern and southern arms of General Zhukov’s drive continue to gain ground further west. The advance seems particularly strong through Vereya and Myatlevsk, and the Russians are pressing on with determination after their victory at Kondrovo, which is 120 miles from Smolensk. Moscow radio says that the remnants of the German forces from Kondrovo are fleeing in disorder. Russian guards regiments recaptured Knodrovo despite stiff resistance from two German infantry divisions andS.S. battalions. The Russian guards then pressed on and retook a railway station about two miles west of the town, and by evening had reoccupied 12 inhabited points. The guards inflicted heavy losses in men and equipment and destroyed the basic strength of one infantry division and one S.S. battalion. The guards are giving the Germans here no time to fortify a new defence line. They are dogging the Germans at every step. OFFENSIVE IN UKRAINE The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says information about the fighting in the Ukraine comes chiefly from Berlin, which reports that a great new Russian offensive has engaged a large German force since Sunday. The Russians are attacking with armoured shock units and heavy artillery. Indirect evidence shows that the chief Ukrainian battle zone is toward and south of Kharkov.

An earlier message stated that Russian troops are now west of Mojaisk and fierce fighting continues in the south-eastern and north-western suburbs of Mojaisk. A despatch from the front to Moscow reports that the whole scene is illuminated by two blazing villages near Mojaisk. Three German divisions are desperately defending the Mojaisk area. A Kuibyshev message claims that the Russians smashed the German defence line at two important points, drove across the Lama River, 75 miies northwestward of Moscow, smashed three German divisions and cut the Briansk highway 140 miles south-westwards of Moscow. They are continuing the offensive and are also reported to be harassing the Germans along the Moscow-Smolensk-Minsk highway, directly westwards of Moscow.