ATTACKS IN SOUTH

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23586, 13 March 1942, Page 5

ATTACKS IN SOUTH

Fierce Russian Offensive

BITTER FIGHTING NEAR KHARKOV

(Received March 13. 1.30 a.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, March 12. According to a neutral source, the Russians in the last 24 hours .have launched almost simultaneous violent attacks along the whole of the south* ern front. .... According to the Vifchy radio the at* tacks are undoubtedly the most important since the beginning of the winter. The Russians are employing about 90 divisions, and are thrusting mainly towards Kharkov. Stalin, and Taganrog. The battle is particularly bitter south and north-east of Kharkov, where the German positions are strongly fortified. „ , .. The Moscow radio stated that the Russians in the last month recaptured 63 inhabited places and killed 40.000 Germans. In addition 12,000 are known to have been wiped out by the systematic destruction of three German divisions. The Russians have also captured enormous booty. . The Moscow radio reports that tne Russians have breached a strongly fortified front in the Kalinin sector, which the Germans called the Straus* Line and which Hiller, after a recent inspection, ordered to be held at all C °lt S consisted of a chain of fortified villages on an open plain. Each village was a fortress surrounded by barbed wire entanglements, ramparts of frozen snow and chains of advanced dug-out* and trenches. All buildings were converted into blockhouses and the areas between villages were covered by enemy ' .... A frontal attack against the villages was impossible, but two Soviet units at dawn rushed against the area between them, split the German defences at two important points and advanced two miles. The Germans counter-attacked throughout the day to cut off the wedges but finally had to abandon their efforts. Russian Gains Near Leningrad The Russians, according to the Stockholm correspondent of “The Times, have further distinctly improved their general position in the Leningrad, Lake Ilmen, and central sectors since the week-end. German efforts to relieve the 16th Army and maintain their forward posts in the Rhzev and Vyazma -pockets contain an element of desperation. The Russians, have made small territorial gains at the Lake Ladoga end of the Leningrad fronts The Vichy, radio declared that Russian paratroops dropped on a German line on the Leningrad front captured 12 fortified positions. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” states that the line from the Leningrad front to Novgorod has been developing a marked bulge to the west in the last few days. The Russians are believed to have severed the Leningrad-Novgorod railway on the central stretch and are pressing toward the main lateral railway from Leningrad to Vitebsk. The reduction of the German 18th Army at Staraya Russa is proceeding satisfactorily, and Soviet aircraft and anti-aircraft are taking a heavy toll of aircraft carrying troops and supplies to reinforce the surrounded troops. The Moscow radio says that 11 more places have been recaptured in the region of Staraya Russa. .

Authoritative information received in London from Russia indicates that'the Germans fought very hard in their 1 unsuccessful effort to retain the strongly fortified position at Yukhnov, southeast of Vyazma, and suffered heavy casualties. Snow lies extremely deep and necessarily hampers movementcircumstances which affect the attackers more unfavourably than the defenders.

The trickle of deserters from the German army is increasing on the central and north-western fronts and prisoners taken by the Russians are iaa worse condition than those taken A few months ago.