Evening star., 1943-01-20
Russion Advances
Toward Khurkov and
Rostov Continue
BY the Asst ciated Press.

NOoSo", jail. ~. - ouI llls
Russian armies pushed to within
79 miles of Kharkov today in
their drive to regain the Ukraine
and shaped thrusts toward RoS-
tov from new positions astride
railways leading into that city.
tThe capture of numerous
towns on five fronts was re-
ported in the Soviet noon COM
munique which was broadcast
from Moscow and recorded in
London by the Soviet monitor
The advance on Kharkov. stem
ming from the Voronezh sector. had
pushed so miles through Valuiki.
junction point of three railroads
east of Kharkov, and into Urazovo.
The Red Army here stood directly
east of the ancient Ukrainian capi-
tai often called the pittsburgh of
the Ukraine because of its indus
trial Importance. The special bull
letin said the Germans had been
pushed back to their 1941 invasion
mark.
The occupation of Valuiki enabled
the Russians to cut for the first
time the rail line which runs north
to KaStornoye, between Voronezh
and Kursk, paralleling the main
Moscow-Rostov line The penetra-
ton to Urazovo put the Soviet Army
within 80 miles of Kupisnsk, one of
the nrst cities taken by the Germans
in their offensive on the Kharkoy
front last summer.
Hard Street Fighting.
A special communique claimed
the capture of Kamensk after hard
street fighting This at once con-
solidated the Red Army's bridge
head on the south bank of the
Donets River and put a main BODY
at point IS miles north of Rostov
on the main -Rostov railway
Some advance guards are 10 miles
nearer Rostov.
The recapture OF Petrovskoe. in
the Northern Caucasus, was hailed
as another major success In the
special communique. 1t lies at a
junction of railroads from Divnoe
and Blagodarnoe forming line that
runs southeast to Stavropol.
These roads lead toward Armavir
the Maikop oil fields and the strong
point effected by the Germans at
Kropotkin.
The Russian troops in the lower
Caucasus also were reported to have
crossed the Kuban River after oc-
cupying Cherkessk in the face of
stubborn enemy resistance.
Beaaya Kalitva Taken.
The night war bulletins also noted
the capture of Belaya Kalitva, on
the north bank of the Donets. River
where the Stalingrad- -Likhaya rail-
way crosses 1t.
The capture since last Wednesday
OF $4,000 prisoners-of whom only
1000 were Germans-was announced
oficially. The other were 27,500
Hungarians and $4,000 Italians.
Germany's allies-some of them
sent token troop units to the front
were showing a WEAKNESS for war
and willingness to be taken pri-
soner as they were caught in traps
similar to the encirclement that cut
up the besiegers of Stalingrad, Rus
sian reports said.
The Russians announced that 1t.
Gen. Flip Ivanovich Golikov, COM
mander on the Voronezh front, had
been promoted to colonel general.
In London, British military OBJ
servers noting German radio ad-
missions that there had been con-
siderable Soviet gains in the West
ern Caucasus" said that this meant
that the Red Army may have
another drive or two up its sleeve
with the freeing Of Krasnodar and
Novorossisk as the objective.
London observers also said that
in the Russian offensives so far 60
German divisions had been badly
mauled and 29 of their satellite
divisions practically knocked out
1t was said that although these divi-
sions were not entirely destroyed
they had been hit so hard they
could no longer be considered fight
ing units. These 80 divisions would
represent some / 1885 900 men.
The German radio recently has
been ahead OF the Russians in an
nouncements of new offensives.
Ring Is frightened.
OF the Voronezh front the COM
munique reported "our troops con-
Quoted successful offensive engage
ments and tightened their ring
round encircled enemy divisions
Our troops captured a number of
populated places. In fighting for
these more than 800 Hitlerites
were wiped out and $50 we're taken
prisoners"
A large number Of italian Off
GERS and men were taken prisoner
in another sector OF the battle
grounds leading to Kharkov, the
communique said.
Five towns southwest Of Velikie
Luki and several In the Northern
/ Caucasus we're added to the Soviet
| trophy list in the nights fighting
the war bulletin reported.