Evening star., 1943-02-14
Advancing Reds Peril Khorkov
From 3 Sides; Rail Links Cut;
Rostov Is Reported Set Afire
Russian Forces Only
II Miles From Major
City in Ukraine
NAzIS HURLED BACK in hardest
q GsrHa liz IL l. L.

NAILS HURLED BACK in hardes
fighting of week in Africa
PageA-
GERMAN REPRISAIsS follow Benes
speech predicting defeat, Page Al
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. 13.-Kharkov
Germang's defense hub for the
entire Eastern Ukraine, was
within reach of Russian artillery
from three sides and all it's main
railway communications were
cut by advancing Red Army
troops, two communicates re-
corded by the Soviet radio moni-
tor indicated tonight. The Rus
slams entered the suburbs at one
point, capturing a town II miles
to the southeast of the city's
limits.
The Red army drove to the north
west of the city where the railway
20 Bryansk was cut 20 miles outside
the city limits, and battered down
barriers on the north northeast,
southeast and south where it ad-
vanced to within %. Is, II and "a
miles respectively, the communiques
announced.
Kharkov's main railway COM
munications to the north and south
and northwest were cut. Only three
smaller lines branching to the west
and southwest were left open.
The Russians also clamped a
tighter hold on Rostov on the Don,
where the Germans were reported
to have applied the torch to the
city in apparent preparation to
withdraw their forces.
Towns Are Captured.
In the 35-mile drive to the south
west since capturing Belgorod, the
Russians took zolachev, only about
20 miles to the northwest of Kharkov.
where they cut the Kharkov-
Bryansk railway line for the first
time, special communioue an
r1ounced.
With Kharkov thus more than
half encircled, the Russians smashed
forward in an arc about the city,
capturing Liptsi, Is miles to the
northeast, Rogan, III miles to the
southeast, Kamennaya-Y -Yaruga, II
miles to the southeast, and Kaza-
chye-Lopan, 22 miles to the north.
These victories were announced in
the regular midnight communique
which was broadcast later.
This announcement also said
Taranovka, only "a miles south of
Kharkoy, had fallen. Taranovka is
on the railroad which runs to
Lozoyaya, already in Russian hands.
On the front menacing Rostov in
a Tightening net, the special war
bulletin reported the capture of
Novocherkassk, 19 miles outside the
city and the last large town on the
railway to the north.
Near Dnieper River City.
The Red Army thus had pene-
trated the German winter line to a
point almost directly north Of
Dnieperopetrovsk on the big bend
of the Dnieper River where, some
observers believed, the Germans
were preparing to form a second line
of defense. Dnieperopetrovsk is
about 100 miles south and slightly
west of zolachev.
Previous penetrations in the
Kharkoy area carried the Red army
to Chuguyev, % miles to the south
east, Lozovays, 70 miles to the
south, and villages and towns 18
miles directly to the east.
A CHS correspondent, reporting
Moscow. said it was reported that
the Germans had set fire to Rostov,
an action which presumably would
be ordered only in case the Germans
were getting ready to evacuate their
forces for the second time. The city
already had been reported under
Russian artillery fire from their
ndis.
No such drastic action was taken
In November, l941, when the Ger
mans were forced 10 withdraw at the
beginning of the first Russian winter
counteroffenSive, and if they had
fred the city this time 1t presum-
ably was because they expected
never to return.
String Of Towns Taken.
The Russians also announced the
capture OF a string Of towns farther
north on the Rostov- v-Voronezh rail-
way. including Likhaya, IS miles
north of Rostov. Zverevo 10 miles
TO the south of Likhaya. and Novo-
shakhty, Is miles northwest OF
Shakhty
Shakhty. only 45 miles north OF
Postoy, was reported captured yes
terday, and the towns occupied by
the Russians today we're more OF
less behind the Russian lines.
The Russians, with today's cap.
lures, we're in control of all the
Rostov-V -Voronezh railway except a
few miles in the immediate vicinity
Of Rostov.
Lending credence 10 reports thai
the Germans were getting ready tC
quit Rostov was the fact that wher
the Germans gave up Shskhty they
withdrew to the west instead oi
toward Rostov
A German radio commentator
Capt. Ludwig Sertorius, broadcast
mg from Berlin tonight, also hinteo
at the same idea.
The fate Of this town (RostovD >
he said. will not be decided at III,