Drives Gaining Impetus

Timaru Herald, Volume CLII, Issue 22446, 4 December 1942, Page 5

Drives Gaining Impetus

German Position m Russia Grave

Enveloped Armies Face Threat Of Starvation

By Telegraph—New Zealand Press Association—Copyright (Received 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 2,

rpHE THREAT of starvation to 250,000 Germans • enveloped in the Don-Volga area and the gravity of the position of 100,000 German veterans at Rjev are emphasised by correspondents to-night. Other significant news is that the Germans north-west and south-west of Stalingrad are unable to stand on the hills where the commanders aimed to halt the Russian advance, and are being pushed back. On the central front the Russian offensive west of Rjev is gaining impetus. Fresh breaches have been made in the enemy lines, while south of Rjev the Russians have over-run another village on the Rjev-Viazma railway. Elsewhere battles are increasing in violence as the Germans are throwing in reinforcements, but the Russians have seized highly important German defences. The Russians expect the Germans fiercely to defend Rjev, against which they are carrying out the war’s longest drawn-out operation.

The Russians are reported to have thrown in 3000 tanks in an all-out attempt to destroy the German armies encircled at Rjev. The Red Army is launching full-scale attacks against the city from the west and the south. The Moscow radio declared that great battles are raging west of Rjev, and added: “Our forces are gradually wearing down and exterminating the Germans.”

The Moscow correspondent of "The Times,” explaining the development of the Russian campaign, says the Red Army during the summer accumulated huge forces of tanks and artillery in the surrounding forests and constructed a new network of communications in poorly roaded districts. Tire Russians from time to time employed a portion of their forces to drive the enemy from his defences, thus forcing him to restart fortifications and regroup the garrison, thereby simultaneously securing springboards for the present offensive. Reports continually refer to the persistence of the German counterattacks which the Russians, who are bringing in reserves, repeatedly repel.

that the Russians have gained successes on the northern and central sectors, but claims that losses have been so heavy that the Russians are unable to take advantage of the ground occupied. Russian Cavalry Charge The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says the hardest battle is raging south of the RJev-Yellkiyeluki railway. Hundreds of tanks are engaged. Two thousand Russian cavalrymen charged through a breach made by the tanks. The final destruction of Von Hoth’s army will not be easy or rapid, but the tables turned on Stalingrad’s WOuld-be conquerors was so totally unexpected that their available food is Inadequate for winter time. This is indicated by the employment of a large number of Junkers transport planes, 45 of which have been destroyed in 24 hours. Deliveries by plane may prolong the situation, but will not solve the feeding problem. Even if Von Hoth realises that eventual starvation and reduction are inevitable, he is not likely to capitulate forthwith, because it would release a large Russian enveloping force for a disastrous surge westward and south-westward.

Reuter’s correspondent at Moscow reports that the German command on the central front has thrown in all its reserves, even railway guards, in an effort to arrest the Russian advance. The Russians, in the last 24 hours, have ousted the Germans from a series of important positions. The Russians in one sector threatened to crush the flank of a number of German units. The enemy rushed up reserves and counter-attacked. They lost 1000 killed.

The Red Army north-west of Stalingrad has resumed its advance after repelling seven fierce counter-attacks from a German division supported by dozens of planes and about 100 tanks. The Germans suffered heavy losses. South-west of Stalingrad the Russians continue to win successes. They are. only eight miles north of Kotelnikovo. The “Red Star” says that Stalingrad’s defenders are striking against the weakening German lines. After a two-day battle they defeated an enemy division and recaptured Yuzhanaya, a hill dominating the south side of the city. The Russians then advanced two miles farther from Stalingrad.