SOVIET THREAT TO MILLEROV

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1942, Page 3

SOVIET THREAT TO MILLEROV

Key Junction in Nazi Communications WITH ROSTOV AND THE CAUCASUS GERMANS FAILING TO STEM RUSSIAN DRIVE LONDON, December 22. The focal point of the fighting in Russia is still Millerovo, the key railway junction for Rostov and the Caucasus. The Russians have battered their way to within 20 miles of the city. An earlier message said it was learned in London that Russian troops of General Vatontin’s force were about ten miles from Millerovo. Moscow maintains its characteristic reticence about the operations. The only specific claim in the latest Soviet communique is the capture of a huge inhabited locality in the Middle Don area. The Germans are doing all they can to stem the Russian advance, but so far without effect. There is nothing to suggest that the Soviet drive has lost any of its force or speed. The Germans are making every effort to bring up reserves, but the Russian tactics of seizing and cutting the enemy’s communications are working out with deadly effect. The German supply system in the Middle Don is in a bad way. Russian guerilla forces are doing great work in the enemy’s rear and the German air force is also having an unhappy time. The German supreme air commander has been transferred to the Don front in an effort to pull things together. The Germans in front of Stalingrad are still on the defensive against persistent Russian attacks. German counter-attacks have met with no success at any point.