Evening star., 1943-01-18
RAF Bombers Blast Berlin Again;
Huge Fires Set; ID Planes Lost;
Reds Pouring Across Donets River
Russian Forces
Only 118 Miles
From Khurkov
By the Associated Press


LONDON, Jan. 18.-The Red
Army was reported pouring
across the Donets River few
miles east of Kamensk today in
a southwark drive on Rostov, IS
miles away, which was closely
co-ordinated with a multi
headed Soviet assault grinding
at all Germany's summer gains
in South Russia and approach
ing within 118 miles of Kharkov,
great steel center of the
Ukraine.
A special communique and the
regular midnight communique as
recorded from Moscow broadcasts by
the Soviet monitor told of mighty
strides taken by the Russian troops
on a front which enveloped South
ern Russia from Voronezh to the
Caucasus foothills.
Millerovo, by-passed last month in
the Russian drive along the Mos
cow-Rostov railway, was reported
recaptured. The special commun-
ique announcing its fall said several
garrisons" of the city we're annihil-
ated by Russian troops.
Several dozen communities in the
bend of the North Donets were re-
ported captured, including large
places, one of which was Kalitvens-
kaya, directly on the river.
Threat to Kamensk.
A Moscow broadcast said the river
had been crossed, presumably in the
neighborhood of Kalitzenskaya, only
II miles east of Kamensk, like Mil
lerovo an important railway center
on the Moscow -Rostov line. Ka-
mensk itself Is threatened from
three sides.
The broadcast said the Germans
fought bitterly to hold their posi-
tions in the Donets bend. The Rus
sian advance into this region threat
ems the flank of the German troops
trying to hold off Soviet forces
poised along the Lower Don only so
miles east of Rostov.
The Red Army is now in position
to drive on Rostov, key Nazi supply
center, from both the north and the
east and other Russian columns are
approaching the city on tangents
such as the Stalingrad- -Novorossisk
railway and the Rostov-Baku rail-
way in the Caucasus. -.t
The Russian force moving south
westward along the Stalingrad-
Tikortesk Novorossisk railway was
reported just % miles short of Salsk.
a railroad center 100 miles southeast
OF Rostov. Thus separate Soviet
armies were menacing Rostov from
points IS, so and about 123 miles
distant.
Three More Places Taken.
The midday communique as rec
orded by the Soviet monitor said
the drive in the Northern Donets
was developing successfully and that
three more populated places were
taken overnight.
On the other fronts of the wide
spread battle-ground the Russians re-
ported new successes, the communi-
que describing the occupation of
several more populated places in the
North Caucasus. Fierce fighting, it
said, was in progress on the western
outskirts of large place in the
North Caucasus, but the city was
not identified. The next really
Si1o hlo cifv ,,or+ I,uyact ~ Caarr;ayrlr
on the Baku-Rostov railroad line Is
Armavir, about 100 miles southeast
Of Rostov.
Russian troops. it was said, broke
through German Notifications and
minefields outside the city and
entered the outskirts. Heavy street
fighting developed and $50 Germans
were reported killed.
In the overnight fighting south Of
Voronezh, where the Russians are
engaged in a new offensive an
nounced only Saturday, the capture
of several more communities was
reported. The communique said
that almost the entire garrison of
one strongly fortified center Of re-
sistance was wiped out. In another
sector, 1885 German officers and
men were taken prisoner, it was
added.
New Blows in Stalingrad Area.
In the Stalingrad area, the sur
rounded German troops were hand
ed new heavy blows More than
1000 Germans were killed and $50
captured, the communique said.
South of Voronezh, the Russians
(See RUSSIA, Page AID