DRIVES' ON ROSTOV

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1942, Page 3

DRIVES' ON ROSTOV

FROM FOUR DIRECTIONS . i . ..... Further Notable Progress Made by Russians THREAT TO MAIN ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPING APACE J HEAVY FIGHTING AROUND MILLEROVO • LONDON, December 30. 'Hitler’s armies in Southern Russia are now falling- back towards Rostov under Russian thrusts from four directions. , North-east of Rostov, Soviet troops are close on the heels of the retreating Germans thrown out of Kotelnikoyo. The enemy is putting as much distance as he can between his forces and the advancing Russians. While the Germans are retreating in this area, a new Russian drive is threatening to put a wedge between the enemy’s line of retreat and the German armies in the Central Caucasus. On the Kalmuk steppes Russian troops have occupied a place 180 miles south-east of Kotelnikovo. If this westward Russian driVe continues the German forces both to the north and south will be in a precarious position. , n , Fighting is again centred round Millerovo. One report says the Russians are already within two or three miles of the town from the east and west. The latest Moscow communique speaks of fierce fighting in this sector on the approaches to a “large inhabited locality.” Correspondents are speculating as • * to whether this place is Millerovo. f The Soviet troops which bypassed Millerovo are gradually drawing nearer to Kamenskaya, an even bigger communication centre 50 miles nearer to Rostov. The Russians are developing another southward thrust towards Rostov and are reported to be fighting west of Millerovo, on the approaches to the great industrial centre of Voroshilovgrad, on the railway from Moscow, and 100 miles north of Rostov. '•