OPENING MOVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1942, Page 3

OPENING MOVES

GERMANS OVERWHELMED TWO BREACHES. THREAT TO COMMUNICATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, December 20. Describing the opening of the great new Russian offensive on the central Don front, a Moscovz message says: ine offensive was preceded by numerous local battles, which flared up before the main blow was struck from the east It was launched by violent artillery and trench mortar fire and supported by aircraft with such effectiveness that the enemy line was broken through simultaneously on a twenty-mile front. Unexpectedly for the enemy, the Soviet infantry poured in through previously prepared passages, overwhelming the Germans with • the suddenness and power of their attack. In some places the Germans attempted counter-attacks, but these were repelled with heavy losses The “Red Star” says: “The main task now is not to allow the Germans to recover. We must advance on the heels of the retreating enemy.” Lieutenant Marshal Golikov, who

commands the Soviet troops on the Voronezh front, visited London in July, 1941, as leader of a Soviet military mission. He is 42 years old. Three main implications of this new offensive are seen in military circles in London. Firstly, there have been two break-throughs—a big one through Monastyrchina and Novayakalitva, south-westwards to Kantemirovka, and the second further south. In the latter operation the Russians have crossed the upper waters of the Chir River and may succeed in turning the enemy s defensive position along the Chir further south. The big break-through may succeed in turning another German defensive position, along the River Kalitva, which flows south to meet the Donetz. The second implication is that the thrust has already succeeded in hampering German lateral communications, because, by capturing Kantemirovka, they have again cut the railway line running north from Rostov to Svobada. The third implication is that the Russians should be able to force the Germans to pin their forces to the ground and render it impossible for them to make moves of reinforcing troops, since they now have three major fronts to consider —the central, Stalingrad, and this new front.

A Moscow message says the Novayakalitva break-through constituted .a victory for the Soviet artillery, which demolished fortified belts, at some points, over 10 miles deep. The Germans had built wells from the ice along the River Don, and behind it massive field fortifications, road blocks and anti-tank ditches. The Soviet guns rapidly breached the ice, and heavy cannon silenced the German gun positions. Soviet troops maintained thenpace, despite heavy blizzards, which still are sweeping over the front. A ' large scale tank combat in enemy defences ended in the rout of the Germans. Then the Soviet cavalry routed scattered enemy infantry, driving them eastwards to join their comrades captured in a battle on the Don bend. Swift Red Army movements prevented the Germans from evacuating materials from Boguchar and Taly, which they had converted into army fortresses .