RUSSIANS PRESSING ON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1942, Page 3

RUSSIANS PRESSING ON

STRIKING AT FOUR KEY POINTS Wedge Driven Deeper HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON ENEMY LONDON - , January 26. The Russians are striking’ at four key points. News of their progress in the Kharkov area is given in a report that they have reached an important town called “B” and are preparing’ for an onslaught on the German fortified positions. In this part of the front the Russians have liberated six populated places. Moscow radio reports that fierce battles have been ragingfor several days in the vicinity of Rzhev on which the Russians are relentlessly advancing, inflicting’ heavy losses in men and material. Russian infantrymen breached the Rzhev defences at one point and captured hundreds of lorries and motor-cycles and much ammunition. The Russians have cleared the Germans out of 54 more places on the central front. It is announced in Moscow that the Russians have occupied several more inhabited localities, including Netidovo, and have sunk a 5000-ton enemy transport in the Barents Sea. Kuibyshev radio said the recapture of Andreapol (80 miles eastward of Velikye Luki), Peno and Toropets cost the Germans 9000 dead. A German Deathshead cavalry brigade was wiped out. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm “Social Demokraten’’ says the Germans admit that Russians have driven a wedge in the German position at Kholm. The Germans say that this is the biggest dent the Russians have yet achieved, but that the German lines are unbroken.