RELENTLESS THRUSTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1942, Page 3

RELENTLESS THRUSTS

VAIN DEFENSIVE EFFORTS BY ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO FORM LINE DEFEATED. SOVIET ADVANCE IN VALDAI HILLS. LONDON. February 3. The fighting in Russia appears to have become a vast series of interlocking thrusts, but there are no signs of the general westward movement terminating. The Germans are desperately counter-attacking at various points, but apparently purely defensively, with the purpose of staving off the fierce, unending Russian jabs. The Russian tactics are to maintain the initiative by thrusting forward with hard-hitting cavalry units which by-pass the stronger points and demoralise the German attempts to form a line. Heavier artillery and tanks then come up and batter down the isolated or semi-isolated stronger points. The Russians in the Valdai Hills front claim a further advance of twelve miles. The German retreat here is described as a headlong flight. Russian ski patrols in this region are rounding up many groups of exhausted Germans behind the Russian front line. GAINS CONSOLIDATED ALONG THE WHOLE FRONT. LONDON, February 4. The Soviet forces are consolidating their gains all along the line. Red Army reinforcements are being hurried to the relief of Leningrad. The heavy German losses in this area have compelled the transfer of the 225th Infantry Division from France to fill the gaps in the German ranks. On the central front Kholm has been left behind in the Russians’ advance, and they are now within striking distance of Velikie Luki and Viazma. It is considered that either of these towns may be the important place designated as V which the Russians report has been captured. In the south Ukraine, Marshal Timoshenko's forces are now operating in an area only 20 miles from Dnepropetrovsk. Their latest advance constitutes a threat to the whole German Ukrainian line.