HARRIED AS THEY GO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1943, Page 4

HARRIED AS THEY GO

RETREATING NAZI COLUMNS IN CAUCASUS ENEMY PANIC IN SOME AREAS. FREQUENT COUNTER-ATTACKS ELSEWHERE. 1 _ (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, January 13. “The Times” Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians have thrown in large units in the Caucasus to harry the dense columns of men and armour retreating along the highways and railroad, which are being constantly bombed and strafed. The Russians heavily raided Krasnodar. The Germans are still strongly resisting at keypoints. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the Russians are pressing towards Armavir along the Baku-Rostov railway from Mineralnie Vodi. Tank-borne shock troops and motorised cavalry are thrusting far ahead of the main body, sowing contusion and straddling communications, ‘in an attempt to hold up the Germans while the slower main Russian force catches up. A front line dispatch to the “Red Star” says the Germans are retreating in panic in some sectors. Elsewhere they are launching frequent attacks, with tanks, supported by the Luftwaffe, but are unable to hold up the Russian advance anywhere for very long. ' Reuter’s correspondent says the Russians Lower Don advance has been slowe ddown. The Russians now face large German forces, which are

no longer handicapped by long lines of communication.

Eyewitnesses on the Caucasian front report that “thousands and thousands” of German bodies were found scattered through the streets of Mineralnie Vodi and other captured towns. The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm “Aftonbladet” states that the Lower Don tank battles of the past few days have been the most violent of the whole war. A million Russians, with a thousand tanks, are engaged on the Don, Caucasus and Stalingrad fronts. Russian pressure is increasing, but the climax has not yet been reached. The Russians are mostly reservists, employing improved Russian-made armoured cars and alsb Allied material.