UKRAINE DRIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 February 1942, Page 4

UKRAINE DRIVE

MARSHAL TIMOSHENKO’S PLANS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES AT STAKE. ATTEMPT TO BREAK UP NAZI PREPARATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.43 a.m.) LONDON, February 15. There is growing evidence that Marshal Timoshenko is about to undertake a great Ukraine drive. His powerfully reinforced armies are now attacking all along the southern front, where, it is reported, big tank battles are raging. The Russians are developing forward movements after strong artillery fire, and the Germans admit that the Red Army has broken through at points south-east of Kharkov and north of Taganrog. Marshal Timoshenko is evidently striving to widen the wedge between the German Donetz and Sea of Azov armies. This is a very important because the Germans have held on at Taganrog and Theodosia (in the Crimea) with large forces, suggesting that these points are intended to be the springboard for a Caucasus attack at the end of winter. SOVIET ADVANCE BATTLE SOUTH OF LENINGRAD. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 15. Advanced Russian forces are 72 miles from the old Polish frontier in the Wilne district, says a despatch from the Moscow front. The Russians captured five populated points around Mechovo. The Berlin radio reported that the Russians had breached German positions at Staraya Russa, but that the Germans brought up fresh re/irves, and, using numerous assault guns, recaptured Staraya Russa.