“MASTERLY TACTICS”

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22246, 15 January 1944, Page 5

“MASTERLY TACTICS”

ROKOSSOVSKY’S SUCCESSES SLOGGING WAR IN MARSHES (Received Jan. 15, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 14 “The battle for Mosir and Kalenkovich: has shown that the Russians are fighting with masterly tactics and skill which they have rarely surpassed in the present war,” says the Moscow correspondent of the Times “The offensive bears the impress o£ General Rokossovsky’s scrupulous, painstaking hand. The early battle for Mosir gave the Red Army little opportunity for manoeuvring. It has beer a series of tough slogging battles for crossroads villages near which the Germans dug elaborate trenches. The Germans put up violent resistance and each objective had to be stormed frontally.” The Russians in the Vinnitsa area are fighting heavy defensive battles. One Russian Guards unit is at present engaged in a violent struggle against constantly reinforced German pressure. When the Guards failed to halt the German tanks, Stormoviks intervened and trounced the tanks. The Germans in this sfv-* tor are exerting pressure in relatively confined areas but the Russians stili hold the general initiative. Reinforcements are also reported to be reaching the Germans in the Shenetovka area. The Germans in this sector, however, are not achieving important results. Indeed, they have been forced back. Tonight’s Soviet communique says that the Russians besides capturing Mosir and Kalenkovich: occupied more than 40 inhabited localities, including three railway stations. The Rusriar»s south-west and west of Sarny occupied the district centre oC Stephan, in the Rovno region. The Red Army south-west and west of Novograd Volynsk occupied several localities, and east of Vinnitsa continued successfully to repel counterattacks and inflicted heavy casualties.