The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-25
GREAT DRIVE BY
 REDS FOR FREEDOM
Continued from Page D


 man divisions engaged in the at tack on Stalingrad)
 (Unconfirmed rumors from Stock holm said the Germans had ordered general withdrawal at Stalingrad to escape the impending encircle- ment,)
 Red Star, organ of the Russian army, said the objective of the at tack was complete eXtermination" of the German forces which have invested South Russia. It also appeared likely that further prog ress of the Rer Army drive would sever the German communications by land with their spearheads in the Caucasus.
 Pravda, organ of the Communist party, said that complete liberation of Stalingrad due etaoinetaoin- of Stalingrad is due soon," adding that "the enemy's encircling ring is broken"
 The Russian drive was srearhead- ed by three main columns:
 One moving down the west bank of the Volga which made contact with the Soviet forces in the north ern industrial suburbs of Stalin- grad, breaking the half-moon en- circlement which the Germans had effected in the 93-day siege of the city.
 One striking from a point north west of Stalingrad which moved in a southweSterly direction to reach positions on the east bank of the Don about 100 miles due west of Stalingrad.
 One striking due west from a point south of Stalingrad which reached Surovikino, about 70 miles west of Stalingrad and only about 30 miles from the advance guard of the column which struck from northwest of Stalingrad.
 If and when the 30-mile gap is closed the entire German force be- sieging Stalingrad will be encircled.
 The Russians who surged across the Don directly west of Stalingrad at Kalach, drove 30 miles yester- day and took the town and railway station of Surovikino, front-line dis patches said, and was hurrying west ward, to close a trap about Axis forces on the Stalingrad front.
 Advanced Soviet units had al- ready cut of the Germans and Ru- manians from escape at many points northwest of Stalingrad, the army organ Red Star said. report ing that Axis forces were retreating in disorder south of Stalingrad, too.
 The Russians were on the heels of the enemy. wiping out the rear guard attachments trying to pro- uect retreating main forces.
 Red Star said the Russians were moving so swiftly northwest of Stai- ingrad that the enemy could not entrench and frequently didn't have time to destroy his equipment and supplies. The Russians drove into one village so quickly that the Ger mans fled without destroying one of the largest gasoline dumps on the front. Russian tanks drove up, filled up with German gasoline and re- sumed the pursuit.
 South Of Stalingrad, the Germans ordered cavalry and infantry at tackS on the Soviet Hanks. But So- viet tanks struck before the attacks were launched, dispersed the Ger mans on the Scopes and crushed many as they fled. Several units were completely wiped out. and two infantry regimental commanders and one artillery regimental ccm- mander captured.
 After such fiascos as this, Red Star said, the Germans were in disorderly retreat in several direc- tions.
 Soviet tommy -gunners, carried by tank. penetrated the enenys rear south of Stalfngrad and cut his communications. Tanks were roar ing forward over the frozen ground. harrassing the Germans. while Stormovik bombers machine-gun- | nod and hof,ahad them