SOVIET INITIATIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1942, Page 4

SOVIET INITIATIVE

MAINTAINED IN RUSSIA STRONG ATTACKS ON CENTRAL FRONT. ABSORBING GERMAN RESERVES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, December 14. While no notable changes in the Russian situation are indicated by the latest communique, it appears that the longexpected German efforts to relieve the army besieged westward of Stalingrad are developing. These counter-attacks are principally in the south-west, from the direction of Kotelnikovo, but also north-west of the city. It is pointed out that the Russians’ plan of attacking in great strength on the central front, where important rail communications have been cut; has absorbed many German reserves which might otherwise ■have been sent to Stalingrad. HEAVY ASSAULT LAUNCHED BY GERMANS. REPULSED BY RUSSIANS. (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, December 14. An important development on the southern front in Russia is a German counterstroke against the Russians holding the Stalingrad-Kuban Railway in the region of Kotelnikovo, where, according to “The Times” Moscow correspondent, the German army is making its heaviest assault thus far in an attempt to relieve General von Hoth’s entrapped divisions. Russian artillery took the first shock of this assault, halting the German tanks almost immediately resumed the onslaught, but were repulsed. German commentators dwell, on the difficulties of the situation in Russia. The "Frankfurter Zeitung” declares that the fight against Russia is a matter of years. The Russians, it says, are still (Germany’s hardest foe. They are surprising in their enormous armaments, fierceness and ability to adopt German methods. North Africa, where neither side has engaged main forces, is secondary compared with Russia.