RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 2, 4 January 1943, Page 3

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

MUCH BOOTY CAPTURED (Recd. 7 p.m.) Rugby, Jan. 2. The Russian morning communique states: “During last night our troops in the area of the middle Don, southeast of Stalingrad, on the central front and in the Northern Caucasus, continued to conduct offensive operations in the same directions as before.” A sketch of the position on the various fronts was given in a morning supplementary Russian communique, which shows that the Germans are retreating and leaving behind great quantities of ‘ material—weapons, ammunition and war equipment.

The supplement states: “In the factory area of Stalingrad our troops occupied several houses and captured 39 enemy pill-boxes and dug-outs. North-westward of Stalingrad, after a fierce engagement, our troops occupied several trenches and dug-outs. The enemy launched counter-attacks but all were repelled. South-eastward of Stalingrad our troops continued the offensive and occupied several localities. In the middle Don area our troops continued the offensive. A Red Am y unit broke the enemy resistance and occupied favourable positions. On the central front our troops conducted offensive jperations and in some sectors repelled enemy counter-attacks.

“During the occupation of Velikiye Luki our troops captured large booty. Westward of Rjev a large enemy force launched several counter-at-tacks against our positions. All were beaten off.”

Warm appreciation is expressed in London my military observers of the dour Russian tenacity which resulted in the fall of Velikiye Luki. Not only is the capture of such a strong position notable in itself, and ot great psychological value, but it clearly releases Russian troops which can now turn round and look westward. Strategically it is not considered that the town’s fall makes any great immediate difference. The railways all round had previously been cut, and the fact of its capture does not necessarily open a new situation of great intensity. If, however, the Russians can cut the railway between Leningrad and Vitebsk at, for instance, Nevel or Sokolniki, that will be of great importance.”—B.O.W.