Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-25
Russian Army
Only IS Miles
From MiHerovo
Close on Key City;
Ukruine's Liberation
Pledged by StoIin
By EDDY GILMORE,


Associated Press War Correspondent.
MOSCOW, Dec. 25.-Liberation
of the Ukraine from the German
invaders was pledged by Premier
Stain and Foreign Commissar
Molotov in a special message to-
day as the Red Army pressed
into the eastern border lands Of
that granary area in one Of four
winter offensives.
Already, military circles declared,
these four offensives have won back
more territory from the invaders
than the whole Russian comeback
drive last winter. Comparative
mileages were not disclosed)
THE Ukraine is and will be So
viet," the Russian war leaders told
the central committee of the Uk-
raine Communist Party.
Units of our troops of the south
western front have already entered
into and liberated the first Ukrain-
ian villages. Let liberty-loving peo-
piles struggle, expand and strengthen
in the Ukraine in the rear OF the
German robbers"
Caucasus Drive Gains.
The Red army moved closer upon
Millerovo, key rail junction 100 miles
north of Rostov, with the capture
of KilodeZy, Is miles to the north
east. They already had won Volo-
shine, directly west of Millerovo and
Olkhovy Rog, directly east.
A new winter offensive in the Cau-
casus was reported to have returned
more German conquered territory to
Russian hands and emphasized anew
the peril to the Nazi armies in
southern Russia.
After announcing in a special
communique last night that Russian
troops southeast of Nalchik had
moved to the offensive and advanced
IL miles, the Soviet Information Bu-
reau reported today that the adj
vance was continuing. Several more
populated places were reported cap
tured and more than 1000 German
mines and "a damaged enemy tanks
were said to have been seized in
one sector.
Mountain City Seized.
Alagir, at the end of spur rail-
way line high in the Caucasus
Mountains about 40 miles southeast
of Nalchik, was snatched from the
Germans, the Russians reported,
and Red Army troops moved along
the railroad to seize Ardon, Is miles
northwest of Ordzhonikidze, and
several other towns just off the rail-
way.
The Russians brought the German
drive in this area to a halt weeks
ago. The Nazi Army apparently was
attempting to get in position for a
drive across the Caucasus Noun
tains into the rich Caucasian oil
fields which border the Caspian Sea.
While the new offensive moved for
ward. Red Army troops in the Mid
ole Don area mopped up large area
just north of the Stalingrad-Likhaya
railway, about 155 miles west of Sta
lingrad.
1920 Captured.
Last nights special communioue
said that in eight days Of fighting
IN the Middle Don area Russian
troops had advanced from IS to 100
miles and captured 42,20O Axis SOL
oilers. The communique reported
5000 more Axis troops killed there.
raising to $4,000 the enemy dead so
far announced.
The pursuit Of retreating units
continued last night, the midday
communlque said, and in one sector
"a slanting blow at strongly forth
fled point was reported to have killed
$50 more Germans. A train loaded
with German equipment was report
ed captured on another sector.
The Germans were reported in an
aggressive temper southwest of Sta
lingrad, launching several counter
attacks, but the Russians said a
German advance in one sector had
been wiped out and the Russians
were continuing their offensive
where possible.
Rzhev Drive Slows.
In one sector in this area "a
height of great strategical impor-
lance" was reported captured after
an engagement in which 1000 en-
envy officers and men were killed.
Northwest of the Volga city, Soviet
airmen raided a German airdrome
during the night and destroyed five
planes, the midday communique
said.
The Russian drive on the central
front in the region west of Rzhev
and in the Velikie Luki area seemed
to have slowed. The communiuue
said German counterattacks in two
sectors there had been repulsed.
Hundreds of German dead re-
manned on the battlefield after one
of these battles, the communique
said.
AS the Red Army moved along the
western end of the StaIingrad-
Likhaya railway they threatened
from the west the good sized city
OF Kamensk on the Moscow ostov
railway below Millerovo.
Each town and village falling to
the Red Army in this Don country
increased the danger for the %
German divisions in the Don-Volga
region. Transport planes now must
fly almost from Rostov to supply the
German troops there because nu.
merous German airdromes have
been occupied by the Russians.