Current Events February 15, 1943; SOVIETS CAPTURE ROSTOV / R. A. F. RAIDS LEAVES LORIENT AFIRE / JAPANESE NO THREAT TO GUADALCANAL:

THE STARS AND STRIPES

                                London, England Monday, Feb. 15, 1943

Soviets Take Rostov,

Cut Off Huge Force;

Voroshilovgrad Falls

Other Russian Units

Fight in Outskirts

Of Kharkov

The capture of the city of Rostov, at the northeastern tip of the Sea of

Azov, where the Don River flows in, was announced in a special communique

issued in Moscow last night. Fall of the city climaxed the Russian

offensive in the Caucasus and doomed a large number of enemy

troops scattered along the edge of the sea to the south, where the Russians

have driven other wedges to cut off their escape. It also increased by a large

degree the threat to the huge Nazi force in the Donetz Basin just north, which is

gradually being encircled by Red Army forces driving south from Krasnoarmeisk.

Lorient Afire

After Double

Raid by RAF

1,000 Tons of Explosives

Leave Nazi Submarine

Base Burning

Incendiaries and more than 1,000 tons of bombs were dropped by the attackers.

In two smashing raids, little more than an hour apart, four-engined RAF

bombers left Lorient, Nazi U-boat base on the west coast of France, in flames

Saturday night.

Nazis Hurling New Weapons

Into Battle to Hold Tunisia

WITH U.S. FORCES, Central Tunisian Front, Feb. 14 (AP)—The

Germans are throwing lavish quantities of their newest weapons into North

Africa to re-equip Rommel's panzer divisions and gain control of the vital

mountain chain known as the Grand Dorsal, which dominates the coastal

plains of eastern Tunisia—last stronghold of the Axis on this continent.

8th Army Still

60 Miles From

The Mareth Line

Rommel's Force Retreats

Into Tunisia, 6 German

Transports Downed

By the United Press

The Eighth Army is still some 60 miles from the Mareth Line, but front line

troops are in contact with Rommel's forces withdrawing towards Ben Gardane,

15 miles across the border into Tunisia. Other sectors, there have been only

patrol activity.

Sees No Threat

To Guadalcanal

Gen. Vandergrift Says Japs

Discouraged, Will Not

Try to Retake It

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14—Maj. Gen. Alexander A. Vandergrift, who

commanded the Marines on Guadalcanal, said the initial invasion was such a surprise

that no". Americans were lost, and the ultimate conquest of the island was

so complete the Japanese probably would not attempt to take it.

The Marine commander said in a speech here the Naval force under Rear

Adm. Daniel J. Callaghan and Rear Adm. Norman Scott, both of whom died in the

sea battle off Guadalcanal last November, attacked a Japanese force twice its

size with brilliant results.