TWO MAJOR THRUSTS

Southland Times, Issue 24651, 24 January 1942, Page 5

TWO MAJOR THRUSTS

RUSSIANS DRIVE WESTWARD MOVE TO RELIEVE LENINGRAD

(Rec. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. The Russians appear to be developing two serious major operations between Moscow and Leningrad. The Stockholm fcor-

respondent of The Times says they are exerting close pressure towards Leningrad on the Volkhov front, from the MoscowLeningrad railway to Novgorod, and they are simultaneously at- , tempting a westward drive across the frozen lakes in the Seliger region. The first thrust aims to throw off the German stranglehold on Leningrad and the second, more ambitious, aims to defeat the whole German northern wing by striking across the frozen Kholm marshes to the Latvo-Estonian border, compelling a general German withdrawal from the

Leningrad province to avoid encirclement. The accomplishment of the second operation requires such tremendous forces of men and material that the Germans appear to believe that the Seliger drive is probably a local diversion, which will'also support the Russian operations on the Central front. Yesterday’s severe fighting between Novgorod and the Leningrad-Moscow railway appears to be the heaviest this year foreshadowing a renewed attempt in the near future to relieve Leningrad. Activity in the Leningrad area,

such as cleaning up the Germans in the immediate vicinity of the city, endorses the belief that the garrison* is preparing for an assault concerted with attacks from outside. I A Press message from Moscow says that the Soviet forces continued their advance on the Leningrad front and broke through heavily fortified enemy areas. Fierce battles are raging for a railway junction north of Viazma, a vital and strategic point, while further Soviet forces are sweeping towards Viazma from Mojaisk in an attempt to drive a wedge in the German line with the object of outflanking Viazma from thte south. A Soviet communique states that during Thursday Russian troops continued their advance in a westward direction and occupied several local towns, among them being the town of Uvalovo. On Wednesday 15 German planes were destroyed. Russian losses were four. On Thursday five German planes were shot down in the vicinity of Moscow. ' /. RACE TO VIAZMA Military experts in Sweden describe Mojaisk as the “Waterloo of the Russian war,” says The Daily Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent. The retreating Germans are now engaged in a race with the pursuing Russians to Viazma. The Russians found 1000 German defenders of Mojaisk frozen to death at their posts. They were clad in ordinary service uniforms and greatcoats ' over which were pulled white shirts for camouflage. Independent military commentators in Stockholm believe the Germans will have to retreat to Smolensk before they can hope to stabilize their line. During the past two days the Russians have captured 44 towns and villages in their operations west of Mojaisk and south-west of Orel. In yesterday’s battle 1400 German officers and men were killed.

In the sector west of Kalinin the objective is an important centre, believed to be Rzhev. In the north some indication of the intensity of the fighting may be gained from the fact that detachments of the renowned Prussian Guards were so weakened and exhausted that they had to be withdrawn. BOOTY CAPTURED A supplement to the Soviet communique states that in one of the sectors of the Central Front Russian forces after breaking the resistance of the enemy, captured 11 guns, 54 lorries and other weapons. In another sector of the same front Russian troops in two days of fierce fighting captured one gun, one french mortar, 11 machineguns, 1500 shells and 21,000 rounds of ammunition.

In one sector of the Southern Front during the last two days Russian troops captured 20 guns, 28 machine-guns, 12 trench mortars and 300 ammunition cars. More than 1400 German officers and men were killed. A group of guerrillas operating in the Leningrad area blew up an important railway bridge. As a result German supplies were delayed for 10 , days. This group destroyed two wooden bridges, cut telephone cables at several places and mined roads. GERMANS LOSE OREL

. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times says that the Germans admit that further withdrawals on the Central Front may be expedient. They appear to have already lost Orel, even if the Russians have not actually occupied it. Russian operations at Byelgorod and more to the south threaten to envelop Kharkov, or compel the Axis forces to retire to the Dnieper. The Moscow newspaper, Izvestia, says: Increasingly violent fighting is going on as the Russian advance continues, threatening to outflank the Germans retreating from Mojaisk. Prisoners reveal that the Germans are throwing in fresh reserves .many of whom arrived from France a few days ago.