MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1943, Page 3

MAINTAINED BY THE RUSSIANS

Along the Whole Fighting Front FROM LENINGRAD TO THE CAUCASUS GERMANS DRIVEN BACK AT VITAL POINTS LONDON, .January 28. The great Russian offensive is maintaining its relentless pressure along the whole front from Leningrad to the Maikop oilfields. In the southern zone the Russians have struck and driven the Germans back at several points during the last 24 hours. Correspondents compare the new tactics of alternating attack in areas widely separated with the Russians ’ offensive last year, when they struck at one main point only. In the Voronezh sector the Russians have pierced deeper still into the German positions and have reached a point 75 miles from the enemy base at Kursk. Further south, the Russians are pressing down on Rostov from the north and north-east against stiffening resistance. The Russian drives from the south and south-east are still making good headway. Further south still, in the Kuban country, the Russians are tightening the net through which the Axis forces must pass to escape from the Caucasus. Three columns are closing in on the key railway town of Kropotkin.

Soviet forces have struck a severe blow in a new direction near the Black Sea coast, 25 miles south-west of Maikop, where they have captured an important oil centre. The remnants of the German army trapped at Stalingrad are reported to have been reduced to 5,000 or 6,000 men.