ON DIMINUTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 39, 17 February 1943, Page 5

ON DIMINUTION

GREAT SCALE AND SPEED OF RUSSIAN ADVANCE (Recd. 6.30 p.m.) London, Feb. 15. With the Russians everywhere exploiting the initiative and the German defences spreadeagled until the strongest buttresses have fallen or are tottering, the momentous question arises as to where and when the German High Command will be able to stop the rot. t

The Germans admit their retreat to new defences, but a strong line does not exist eastward of the Dneiper. The Dneiper possesses a huge bend which gave the Russians the opportunity for outflanking the German salient, as has already been achieved on the Don and the Donetz. Military commentators are already doubtful whether, if the Russian thrusts continue on the same scale and speed—of whigh there are no signs of diminution —the Germans can rally even on the Dneiper. Moscow correspondents emphasise that the huge German losses in troops, which are likely to increase by scores of thousands in the Donetz and elsewhere, and the even more dangerous losses in equipment, which have reached a colossal scale, may nrevent their standing on a line hundreds of miles long.

In addition, says the British United Press’ cot respondent, there is the bitter disillusionment for the German Army which, within three months, has crashed from a dominating campaign to the humiliation of being driven within a few hours from strongholds they had months to prepare and which were regarded as permanently German.

The Wehrmacht has also lost many thousands of its best and most experienced troops, which are impossible to replace. It is regarded as significant that numerous German local counterattacks, despite the support of tanks, failed to hold the Russians in any sector. Nevertheless, there is the possibility that the Germans’ apparent collapse was due to the continual weakening of the lines in order to build up defences in the rear. The Russians may yet encounter fullyorganised resistance, testing them to the utmost. The Germans may also be preparing strategic counter-attacks aimed at turning the tables against the Russians when the situation is propitious. With the recapture of Rostov the great Don River is freed from the Axis forces along its entire length.

W’hen the Russians entered Rostov they found German posters telling the population: “We will not leave Rostov.” A Cossack attack from the southeast decided the fate of the city. The Cossacks crossed the mouth of the Don from the Sea of Azov, attacked from the south-west and took prisoners hundreds of the enemy. The German Command brought up fresh reserves but failed to stop the Russians. Pravda says the ferocity of the battle increased when Hitler ordered powerfully-equipped reserves and tank forces to die rather than retreat from Rostov. Hundreds of German corpses litter the streets, yards and alleys in the city. Many buildings and houses were destroyed, and some are still burning.