FRESH TROOPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 272, 27 August 1943, Page 3

FRESH TROOPS

FREQUENT COUNTER-ATTACKS. SPECIAL FORCE OF GERMANS. MEETING SOVIET OFFENSIVE. (N.Z. Press Association—-Copyright.) (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 26. Frequent German counter-at-tacks characterise the fighting throughout the area of the Russian offensive, with the enemy constantly bringing up fresh men and tanks. The Germans have created special counter-attacking groups, which are hastily thrown in whenever conditions favour a counterattack.

' There was a particularly determined attempt by the enemy on Wednesday south-west of Voroshiloberad, where several dozen tanks, with air support and large infantry forces, attacked the drawn-out right flank of the Red Army and simultaneously harrassed the left flank. An initial success of the enemy drive petered out and the Russians resumed the attack, capturing an important settlement and forcing a river position, thereby creating a grave threat to a large enemy force, consisting mainly of remnants of units already routed in the Soviet attack.

According to the Soviet Army newspaper “Red Star” to-day, the Germans are attempting to bomb the Russians in the Kharkov area by using large groups of bombers escorted by fighters, but the Soviet forces are successfully dealing with them.

Yesterday nine Soviet fighters met 40 German bombers escorted by about the same number of fighters. Despite their numerical inferiority the Russians shot down 22.

The newspaper “Izvestia” reports that the Germans are forcing their soldiers in the Donets basin to sign a paper promising that they will fight to the last. In addition, their machinegunners have been ordered to shoot any soldier fleeing from the field. “This step is futile,” says the newspaper, “as the Red Army is pressing forward and possesses initiative and superiority.” —British Official Wireless. IMPORTANT BRIDGEHEADS FALL LONDON, August 25. The mighty Russian armies which have smashed beyond Kharkov —two north-west and south-west of Kharkov, threatening Poltava, and now pouring into the Donets basin from the east and north, threatening Stalino —are still blasting their way through the German defences. The Moscow radio declared:' “Our victorious forces are advancing into the Ukraine on a broad front. The Germans are doing their utmost to stem the drive south-west of Voroshilovgrad, but despite bitter resistance the Red Army thrust westward and crossed the water barrier.” Correspondents continue particularly to emphasise the great significance of the drive toward the Donets basin with its potential danger to the German forces in the whole area and the Kuban.

Reuter’s correspondent at Moscow says that the Russians captured two important bridgeheads in the Donets basin and are now streaming through gaps in the German lines west of the important German base of Stalino. The Germans are still sending reserves to the threatened sectors in an attempt to seal the breaches, but the Russians beat off a German counterattack between Voroshilovgrad and Stalino. .

The Russians advancing against Stalino are smashing up one strongpoint after another, adds Reuter. They are fully exploiting the outflanking tactics so successful at Kharkov and Byelgorod. The terrain, which is unbroken by streams, hills and ravines, is helping the Russians.

The correspondent nevertheless points out that the Germans who have been fortifying this region for months, are well dug in with numerous pillboxes protected by barbed wire.

The British United Press correspondent at Moscow says that the great battle for the whole Donets basin is developing favourably after hard initial fighting which resulted in a breach of the German positions on the river Mius and the Russian push across the Donets at Izyum. The Russians are increasingly threatening the two vital Donets cities, Gorlovka and Stalino. The Soviet Army newspaper “Red Star” says that in successful battles south-west of Voroshilovgrad the Russians deeply penetrated the German defences. The paper adds that the Germans in the Ukraine are suffering ’enormous losses in counter-at-tacks. They have been ordered (according to prisoners’ statements) to hold their positions at all costs and guard the gates to the Donets basin.