LINES SMASHED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 85, 21 January 1942, Page 5

LINES SMASHED

SOVIET GAINS AT TWO POINTS. GERMAN PRESS PESSIMISTIC UNSUSPECTED RUSSIAN STRENGTH United Press Association-Copyright.) (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. Russian troops are now west of Mozhaisk. Fierce fighting continues in the south-eastern and north-western suburbs of Mozhaisk. A despatch from the front to Moscow reports that the whole scene was illuminated by r two blazing villages near Mozhaisk, three German divisions desperately defending the Mozhaisk area. A Kuibishev message claims that the Russians smashed the German defence line at two important points and drove across the Lama river, 75 miles north-west of Moscow. They smashed three German divisions and cut the Briansk highway, 140 miles southwest of Moscow. They are continuing their offensive and are also reported to be harassing the Germans along the Moscow-Smolensk-Minsk highway, directly west of Moscow. ' The German press strikes a, pessimistic note concerning the Russian campaign. The “Frankfurter Zeitung” warns its readers against exaggerated hopes and admits that the Russians had pierced the German defences in the west.

The “Deutcher Beobachter” says: “After six months fighting against Russia we see that events have not developed according to expectations.” The “Borsen Zeitung” refers to the severe winter, bad roads, and terrific frost, and the impossibility of digging trenches or employing heavy guns. The newspaper adds that the German soldier is insufficiently adapted for defence. The enemy is stronger than the German leadership suspected. The Russians are experienced winter fighters, constantly throwing in fresh reserves.