IMPORTANT TOWN FALLS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 107, 30 January 1943, Page 5

IMPORTANT TOWN FALLS

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.)

(Received January 29, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, January 28. The Soviet night communique indicated that the Russians have reached the River Oskol, ami are 50 miles east of the vital Kursk-Kharkov railway. The communique also reported that the Russians have reached a point 65 miles south-east of Rostov, while forces driving from Tuapse tire 20 miles south-west of Maikop. In central Stalingrad, 3350 men, including a whole regiment, surrendered. Tiie liquidation of the German army at Stalingrad is expected to assist the Russian offensive greatly by releasing large numbers of troops, in addition to the effects of the reopening of three important railways. Several enemy salients on the Russian front have been straightened out iu the lust few days. In particular the Russians are now reaching 50 miles to the west of Voronezh, and are across the Valuiki railway south of Kastornoye. The Russians, advancing on the Voronezh front, today captured the important junction of Kastornoye itself. The town fell after a determined Russian attack in which prisoners and booty were taken. Divisions Cut Oil. The .Stockholm correspondent of “The Tinies” points out that the severance of tlie main Voronezh-Kursk railway in the Kastornoye region cuts off many enemy troops who, it is believed, can be counted in divisions. The Russians continue to aim at communications rather than strong points, breaking up the German

winter line into fragments which are precariously linked by secondary roads, i The Russian drive on Tikhoretsk threatens to complete the encirclement of the Germans in the Kuban area. Another drive is aimed against the Germans in the Maikop area who were entrapped by tlie fall of Armavir, unless they discard most of their equipment and escape across the hills to Krasnodar. Tlie Moscow correspondent of the N.B.C. stated, “The Gentians still have a few things up their sleeves,” lie says, “and the Russians know it.” The “Red Star” has issued a warning to this effect, and has urged the Red Army to accelerate and expand its offensive. That is exactly what the Red Army is doing now. A Finnish communique makes no mention of Petsamo, which, according to a Stockholm report, the Russians captured.