Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1943-01-06

Army
FIeeS
Ply HENRY SHAPIRO

MOSCON. Jan. u W - liz
Germans are in disorderlv retreat
west of Mozdok in the Caucasus.
front dispatches said today, and
are blowing up bridges and min
ing roads in an attempt to escape
from swift moving CoSsacks vino
are slashing at their flanks,
The Red army. tanning out west
and north of PrCkhlandnenSki. %
miles west of Mozdok. stepped up
the pace of its advance in an at
tempt to convert German retreat
into a rout. Close behind the Cos
sacks went tank and infantry units
to mop up any islands of reSis-
lance.
lCOSSACKS IN VAN
London newspapers carried large
headlines saying 100000 Germans
were in retreat in Russia
Front dispatches revealed 1t was
the fierce fighting Cossacks who
made the first breakthrough that
leo TO the German defeat at MOI
dok and Nalchik
The Red army offensive in the
south Stalingrad sector picked up
momentum. too, after the seizure
Of the Axis stronghold of Tsimly-
Anskara in the south arm OF the
Don bend The army newspaper.
Red Star. said the city fell after
a tWo-day battle in which the
German garrison was annihilated.
The the Red army began tanning
cut and Red Star, army newspaper
said the operations now had Sc
cured all of the eastern half OF the
Don bend for the Russians.
The Russians. marrying the Ger
mans at every possible point. start
Ell an offensive directly west OF
Stalingrad the Soviet noon COM
munioue reported.
LINES SHATTERED
Stricking out from the west bank
of the Volga river YESTERDAY, the
Russians by this morning had rip
ped through the first German de-
ferse line and captured dozens OF
trenches and dugouts and two I'M
portant heights.
This newest in the astonishing
series of Red army winter Often
sives started with a terrific artll-
lery bombardment.
Infantr-nen including the fam
Gus Guards Regiment moved for
ward under cover of a creeping
barrage. broke through the wire
ard machine gun cover and. pene-
trating the first enemy line. cap
tured 20 trenches and dugoutS yes
terday.
Last night the assault troorS
storrned and captured two heights
in fierce fighting, the noon COM
munique said. and in addition cap
tured dozens more trenches.
SPOIL TAKEN
In addition to killing hundreds
of enemy troops, the Russians cap
tured prisoners both yesterday dur
ing the night and large stores OF
war spoils including four field guns
and 16 machine guns. The nights
spoils had not been counted when
the noon communique was issued.
In Stalingrad City the Russian
artillery laid down a heavy bonn
bardment throughout the night,
wrecking u enemy dugouts in the
northern factory district.
; The Germans continued desper-
ately to supply their starving Stall
ingrad garrison and the Russians
Yesterday shot down nine German
planes in the Metropolitan area,
the midnight communicate SAID.
On the middle Don front. now
merging full with the southwest
south Stalinerad fronts in one gil
gantic steam roller attack toward
Rostov. the Russians continued eli
night to sweep the Germans be-
fore them. the noon communique
said.
PRISONERS TAKEN
They captured several inhabited
places between dark and dawn.
One unit alone killed all but about
100 men CT an entire battalion OF
l,0OC Germans and captured three
tanks two armored cars, and II
iield guns. The lo0 survivors we're
taken prisoner.
In another sector the Germans
counterattacEcd. trying to reach an
encirclcd garrison. The Russians
crumplcd up their infantry and
tanks, killing 100 Germans and dcS-
toying six tanks.
On The middle Eon front Tcster-
day the Russians had stO:med ano
captured the important cities OF
Morozoysky. 100 miles southwest OF
Stslingrad. and Tsimlyanskaya. ii.
miles southwest of Stalirgr3d
whence the Germans starred thcir
summer offensive.
SUPPLY BASE TAKEN
Here the arm of Colleen. n
F.. Vatutin. operating east OF inc
Rcstov- Voronezh-M Moscow railroad
had cut the 81 lingrac -KharEol
railroad at Morozoysky and hao
smashed as far south as the Dor
river bend TO close aro' her semi
circle around the % German diyis-
ions trapped in the Don-Voiga
area.
At TSmilyanskaya the Russians
captured a great German supply
base.
Frieoners and spoils had net %cl
been counted
Severa! mall towns aad Villages
were taken in the middle D5n yes
tcrdsy. One entire garrison which
put I'D q death fight was WiFet
cut except 70" those who surreoo'
cred. The men who gave up IN
GUIDED troops Of an air-bornc IN
fantIv division landed as las
hcpc. With them surrendered
German Rcgimcntal Commander.