NOTE OF GLOOM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1943, Page 3

NOTE OF GLOOM

SOUNDED IN BERLIN “RETREAT UNDER APPALLING CONDITIONS.” UNDER INCREASING SOVIET PRESSURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, February 11. The Germans are counter-attacking fiercely, but without success. A Berlin military source said last night that the Russian pressure was\ incresaing and they had brought up powerful new forces. The Berlin radio tonight announced, “The whole German front in the south is in grave danger as a result of a great Soviet wedge of tanks and motorised units. Our main forces are retreating under appalling conditions. The wedge rrifcst be blunted to retrieve the situation?' The Moscow correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that the socalled Gei'man winter defence line of 1942 from Orel to Kharkov has ceased to exist, with all the bases fallen or being outflanked. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that German tanks are making a desperate effort to hold up the Russian advance in the great battle of the Upper Donetz, which is raging amid fierce snowstorms. The victorious Red Army has thrown back counter-attack after counter-attack. Today’s Soviet communique says that the Russians forged ahead in the Rostov sector. It was reported last night that the Red Army had crossed the Don and reached the main railway east of the city. Substantial progress has been made in the north Caucasian area.

The Moscow radio says that a new Russian army of 1,500,000 ski-troops will soon be ready for battle. They are specialists in bayonet and handgrenade fighting, and will complete their training at the end of this month. i It is believed in London that the Red Army is at present concentrating on cutting railways—first cutting the Bryansk-Kharkov, trunk line behind Kursk; second, encircling Kharkov and cutting its main line to Kiev; and third, pushing from Kramatorsk and cutting the only main railway through the Donetz between Rostov and Kiev. "Without the uninterrupted use of these three railways, the Germans cannot maintain their armies.