RUSSIAN PRESSURE ON CENTRAL FRONT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1943, Page 3

RUSSIAN PRESSURE ON CENTRAL FRONT

1941 LINE REACHED

Spring Thaw May Be Vital Factor At Smolensk

Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 2S. The Russians on the central front have broken through the intermediate fortifications and reached their line of September, 1941, which the Germans have since strengthened. The present slackening in the fighting is 'due to the necessity of reconnoitring the line, where the slightest prod provokes a furious enemy counter-attack. The Russians at one point are threatening the enemy's main line of communications and both sides are massing big forces. The Russians are quickly restoring the railway line from Moscow, from which already there is regular traffic with Rjev and Velikiye Luki. The Red Army in Smolensk province has now encountered the main German defences strung out 40 miles around the city. The Russian line runs roughly in an arc from a point 40 miles north-west of Smolensk across the Viazma-Smo-lensk railway, eastward from Dorogobuj to somewhere. halfway along the Sukhinichi-Smolensk railway. Reds Force Upper Dnieper The Russians have forced the upper reaches of the -Dnieper at many points and are now fighting on the western bank near the railway station at Dorogobuj. They have also approached within 15 miles of Dukhovschchino. The spring thaw may be the dominating factor on this front for seme weeks. The terrain is not easy for movement in good weather, but heavy equipment, tanks, guns and large lorries, probably in addition, are slowed up by the mud and flooded rivers.

Reuters Moscow correspondent says although the Russian offensive at the moment does not maintain its earlier scale, General Koniev is still advancing in some sectors, where he is attempting to effect a junction between the troops from Byeloi and those from the upper Dnieper, operating from the region of Kholmzh Irkovsky. Russian scouts are probing the heavily fortified line defending the Yatsevo-Smolensk sector. As a precaution the Russians are entrenching in conquered positions. Extensive Enemy Demolitions . The Germans in many sectors have been forced back to the main line of defence, but are still clinging to strong support points commanding the approaches. In other sectors they continue vigorously counterattacking in order to keep the Russians from these strong points which-, however, are often successfully eliminated by the threat of encirclement due to Russian infiltrations. The Russians are very busy behind the front restoring communications which the Germans, during their retreat, damaged to the utmost, blowing up the majority of railway bridges of which there were many. For example, between two stations westward of Rjev the Russians have rebuilt 37. The Germans cut down forests along the railways for hundreds of miles in order to reduce the danger from guerillas. The Russians generally are exerting pressure on the 500-mile line from Straraya Russa to Kursk and Orel, but southward of Orel the Germans are making an effort to loosen the Russian hold on reoccupied territory and claim a successful drive against Syevsk. •

Lnftwaffe Ineffective A lull prevails ,/or the moment on the ground in the upper Donetz, but the Luftwaffe is active against the Russian rear. The Luftwaffe tried mass formation attacks, but the losses were too heavy and their high altitude bomliing ineffective. They are now sending over bombers in groups of four to six, strongly escorted by fighters. The Russian fighters are vigorously epposing them. Stormoviks attack the Germans day and night, especially paying attention to tanks, of which 22 were knocked out in one day.

The German bridgehead in the Kuban, where Hitler is attempting to retain a toehold, has apparently been considerably reduced by the recent fighting. Despite the great difficulty of movement in the Taman swamps the Russians are pressing down the only main railway line in the district. Battles are reported near Krymskaya,- threatening Novorossisk. The Moscow radio says the Russian offensive has forced the Protoka River, which is an arm of the Kuban delta, and captured 20 populated places on its western bank.