Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-26
Russians Smash
Ahead in Drive
For Naval Base
Py the Associated Press

LoNDON, rep. Zb.-ClOSlng a
trap about the remnants of the
German Caucasus army huddled
in NovorOSsiSk and wedged
against Kerch Strait, the Red
Army smashed into the railway
town of Angelinskaya, about so
miles northeast of Novorossisk,
and then took Staronizhe-S teb-
llevskaya, a few miles south, in
a bloody battle, the Russian noon
communicate said today.
The communique was recorded by
the Soviet radio monitor.
Novorossisk was a major Russian
naval base before it's occupation by
the Germans last September.
The drive, 40 miles northwest of
krasnodar, apparently was pro-
crossing down the railway from
11mashevkskaya, previously recap
tured, to Novorossisk.
West of Krasnodar, Russian COL
umns were said to be pushing past
Mlngrelskaya, 33 miles from Novo-
rosslsk, and at Akhtirskaya, only Is
miles from the coast.
Hundreds of dead were left in the
streets of Staronizh-S teblievskava
after an all-night battle, the noon
communicate declared
Counterattacks Repulsed.
The advance was coupled in the
war bulletin with a declaration that
numerous German counterattacks
with tanks and motorized infantry
had been repulSed southwest of
kramatosk, in the Donets Basin
north of Stalino, and that one Red
Army unit had wiped out more than
a battalion of enemy infantry.
TWenty-six enemy tanks were dis
abled or burned, the war bulletin
said, adding that in another sector
of that battlefield a group of Ger
man rapid-fire rif1emen was wiped
out after penetrating the Russian
lines.
IhlS was IN the area where Ger
man radio accounts previously had
claimed Nazl successes, including the
recapture of Kramatorsk and Kras-
noarmeisk.
A strongly-fortified town south
west Of Voroshilovgrad was cap
tured In sudden drive and 200
Germans were killed, the Soviet
communique declared.
Clash West of Rostov,
West Of Rostov Red Army troops
annihilated company of enemy in
fantry in fierce clash, while west
OF kharkov the Soviet advance con-
tinued with the capture of another
village, the communique said.
German forces communicating
in defense Of the approaches to Orel
were repulsed with heavy losses in a
number of sectors north Of Kursk,
Is was asserted.
The entire enemy garrison was
wiped out at Angelinskaya and the
offensive then was expanded with
an assault on Staronizhe-S tebliev-
ska, the Russians said.
otieet HghClng was IN progress all
night. BY morning our troops com
pletely cleared the village of German
invaders. Hundreds of enemy dead
were left on the battlefield. Much
war material was captured and MANY
prisoners were taken" the bulletin
stated.
The drive came after the Russians
announced in their early COM
munlque the capture of Mingrel-
skaya, where they said their troons
exterminated most of the garrison
and then fought off German units
west of the town.
Number of Places Taken.
Without identifying the towns to-
day S early communique said a num-
Der OF places were recaptured west
OF kharkov in the offensive aimed at
the Dnieper Valley.
German radio comment acknowl-
edged that the drive in this region
which could aim for Konotop and
klev. or for Poltava, Kremenchug
and Dnleperopetrovsk still held seri-
Gus import for the Germans, but
said the push Continues to lack
clarity"