Show Russian Drives Hit West From MOSCOW Feb 19 UP UP-Rus- UP Rus Russian sian mobile forces that drove the Germans Germans' another 30 miles westward westward westward west west- ward through the Ukraine Friday moved within 40 miles of key railway junction midway between between between be be- tween and the river stronghold of Kremenchug To the north another red army was closing in on Orel last strong German base threatening Moscow's Moscow's Mos los cows cow's left flank overrunning 10 more villages in fighting through a fierce blizzard Front dispatches reported unbroken un unbroken un n- n broken soviet gains along the entire entire en en- tire Ure southern front The biggest advances advances' were scored in the pincers pincers pincers pin pin- cers push on Orel and the drive west of More lore slowly the Donets basin was being cleared out and the remnants of the axis army trapped in the Caucasus were clamped tight on i peninsula Colonel General Philip Golikov clearing his right and left flanks in inthe inthe inthe the area thrust a spearhead spearhead spearhead spear spear- head within striking distance of ot Continued on x Three Column Five RUSSIANS DRIVE FARTHER WEST Continued from Pate Pace P te Out One only 65 miles from the giving him a straight run rundown rundown down own the railway to Kremenchug Desperate and disorganized German German Ger Gere man forces were reported counterattacking counterattacking counter- counter attacking furiously but to no novail vail avail avail in an effort to check the red ed army drive toward the river the ic next natural barrier at which they ley could establish a stable line At the same time the German position in the Donets basin grew more nore critical by the hour as soviet assault forces deepened their wedges and struck westward and southward toward Sea Seaf of f anchor post which had hadeen been een brought within range of heavy artillery A number of s strong ong points in in the he basin were reported encircled With the Germans trying to supply their doomed garrisons by air New gains against Orel Ore were reported after the capture of 33 miles to the east and the neighboring towns of Pok Pok- and Sosna 45 miles to the southeast Capture of Orel would knock knockout knockout knockout out the northern anchor of the axis' axis southern line and restore the vital longitudinal Moscow Khar kov railroad to the Soviets Occupy Towns Simultaneously the que reported other Russian armies to the south overcame an abortive axis counterattack west of ot Khar Khar- kov tov and resuming their pursuit of ot the enemy occupied a number of towns The Germans threw the remnants remnants rem rem- nants of f two regiments regiments- men at full strength and strength and 20 tanks into the futile tack By infantry fire soviet men pinned down the and arid made them take cover cover the com com com- said Simultaneously two tw soviet motorized detachments attacked the enemy flank Hank and rear The Germans lost men and retreated rapidly Soviet troops captured seven tanks four self- self propelling guns 13 machine guns guns two iwo six mortars and 19 trucks loaded with supplies and prisoners Several additional towns also fell to Russian troops gradually wiping out the axis salient below miles southeast southeast south south- east of The towns were were in th the vicinity of 35 miles south of and brought the Russians as booty seven tractors 17 trucks and 15 carts loaded with supplies Nazis Annihilated In another sector around Ro Ro- Ro- Ro two German infantry companies companies companies com com- were surrounded and anni At the northwestern end of the sali salient nt a a. German counterattack was repulsed near 10 miles south of with enemy losses including g officers officers c cers cers rs and and men killed and six tanks destroyed Red armies smashing against another axis salient along the northeastern coast of the Sea of captured Matveyev Kurgan 26 miles north of and 60 villages west of 40 miles north of the midnight disclosed The midday also reported reported re reo re- re ported soviet troops forging ahead w west st of for a frontal smash at A number of villages villages villages vil vil- vil- vil lages were overrun in the advance it said In the northwest Caucasus the Russians were tightening their arc of encirclement against German forces penned against the Black Blacksea Blacksea sea on on the Taman peninsula |