RUSSIANS FOLLOWING UP KHARKOV VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 February 1943, Page 3

RUSSIANS FOLLOWING UP KHARKOV VICTORY

Big Tank Battle West of City DESPERATE GERMAN EFFORTS TO REPAIR GAP IN LINE SOVIET COLUMNS NEARING TAGANROG LONDON, February 17. As the gjreat Russian offensive moves to the end of its third month, the Soviet armies are following- up their brilliant series of victories by rolling- back the enemy forces all along the 400-mile front from Kursk down to the Sea of Azov. The Russian troops which yesterday stormed and captured Kharkov, scoring- the big’gest victory of the war, are today close on the heels of the routed enemy forces west of the city. The Germans are making desperate efforts to repair the great gap in their line and have sent up panzer formations. A big tank battle was raging this morning on the plains beyond the city. In the first stage of the fighting more than 1,000 Germans were killed and at least 43 of their tanks knocked out. The German Exposition here is obviously intended as a screen to aid escape of the main Kharkov garrison in its retreat to the west. The Germans are getting- no chance to halt and reform, as fast Soviet columns are right on their heels. The country over which the Germans are fleeing offers little cover. A correspondent describes it as one of the worst spots he has ever seen. At the southern end of the front, the town of Taganrog is increasingly threatened by the Russians advancing along the coast road from Rostov.