CONTINUED HEADWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1943, Page 3

CONTINUED HEADWAY

MADE BY THE RUSSIANS In Thrusts Towards Rostov ON SEVERAL LINES OF ADVANCE DRIVE ALONG TRANS-CAUCASIAN RAILWAY LONDON, January 8. The chief news from Russia still comes from the Lower Don and the Caucasus, where the Soviet troops are keeping up their rapid advance towards Rostov. The Germans are resisting stubbornly, but the Russians are pressing their advance on all fronts and enemy counter-attacks have been heavily dcffs&tcd West of the Lower Don, a Russian army moving across the steppes at the rate of 15 or 20 miles a day, is now approaching the Donetz-Don junction, 60 miles from Rostov. One Soviet force is only 18 miles from this river junction. South of the Don, another Russian force has; covered 60 miles in less than three days and now firmly holds Nikolievskaya, only 40 miles from the Rostov-Salsk railway. This force, which has reached a point 63 miles from Rostov, also presents a potential threat to the rear of the German forces retreating down the Trans-Cau-casian railway from Kotelnikovo. In the Caucasus, another Rusian force advancing down the railway has advanced 60 miles along a 70-mile front since Sunday. It is now less than 40 miles from the Soviet force which is making record time down the Kalmuk steppes.