LAUNCHED BY THE RUSSIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1942, Page 3

LAUNCHED BY THE RUSSIANS

North-West and South of Stalingrad ADVANCE OF 40 TO 50 MILES TO THE DON ENEMY DIVISIONS ROUTED AND HEAVY CAPTURES MADE LONDON, November 22. A SPECIAL STATEMENT JUST RECEIVED IN MOSCOW ANNOUNCES THAT THE RUSSIANS HAVE ADVANCED FROM 40 TO 50 MILES IN NEW OFFENSIVES NORTH-WEST AND SOUTH OF STALINGRAD. The Russians have captured the town of Kalatch, on the east bank of the Don, due west of Stalingrad. An official Soviet announcement states that in the last three days the Russian troops at Stalingrad have passed to the offensive and have broken the enemy defences on a front of 20 miles north-west of Stalingrad and a front of 15 miles south of that city. With the capture of Kalatch and two railway stations, both the railways supplying the enemy forces east of the Don have been cut. Heavy losses have been inflicted on the enemy. Six Axis infantry divisions and a tank division were routed and severe losses were inflicted on several other infantry and motorised divisions and another tank division. Thirteen thousand prisoners have been taken by the Russians, with 350 guns, large numbers of rifles and machine-guns, ammunition dumps and food stores. The booty is being counted. Over 14,000 officers and men were left by the enemy on the battlefield, killed or wounded. The Russians are continuing to press their attacks. Earlier, Berlin, Rome and Vichy had all admitted strong Soviet attacks at various points along the Russian front.