RAIL LINKS FALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 55, 6 March 1943, Page 5

RAIL LINKS FALL

IN RUSSIAN ADVANCE

Nazi Position At Orel Most Precarious N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright Eec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 5. Significantly observing that the front above Kharkov, which the Germans previously described as fluid, is to-night even more fluid, The Times Stockholm correspondent says the chief Russian success west of Lgov, on the Kharkov-Bryansk railWay, is threatening the Rylsk terminus branch line from Korenyevo, which is endangered by the Russian capture of Sudja. After the capture of Sevsk the Russians are within striking distance of Bryansk and the Knotop-Kiev railway. The Russian progress in the apparently interminable Orel battle is not impressive measured in *miles, but already it renders most precarious the road and railway linking Orel to Bryansk. It is doubtful" whether the German withdrawal to escape the envelopment of Orel can long be delayed. The Russians have closed m on the important 90-mile Viazma-Smolensk railway, which is the strongest fortified railway line the Germans hold in Russia. ■

The Germans are still striking hard in the Slavyansk sector on the Donetz. A number of places on the Donetz have changed hands many times. Berlin spokesmen assert that the winter operations in the ]?°™;™ Basin have virtually ended and a lull is inevitable until the Germans begin their summer campaign. The Berlin radio announced that after heavy artillery preparation the Russians launched massive attacks on both sides of Staraya Russa.

The Russian Air Force is very active in spite of the bad weather and the Soviet land forces have retaken a number of Places. Unconfirmed reports say that the Russians have broken the German line on_ the Lovat River, a little below Staiaya Russa.

Reports from further south say the Russians are clo . sing „J" h-p Viazma. If the Russian offensive between Viazma and StarayaißUbsa. succeeds and the Russians penetrate the Baltic States, Germany s Leningrad armies will be forced quickly to withdraw or be annihilated.