SOVIET ATTACKS CONTINUE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23588, 16 March 1942, Page 5

SOVIET ATTACKS CONTINUE

No Major Change Reported HEAVY BLOWS IN CRIMEA (Received March 15, 11 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, March 15. The midday Soviet communique says that no change of any significance took place on the various fronts through the night. The Germans admit very heavy Russian attacks in the Crimea. The German-controlled Calais radio said that the battle was being waged along the whole of the Kerch Peninsula. The Russian offensive began at 7 a.m. on Friday, The Russians were said to be using five divisions, supported by heavy tanks and waves of aircraft. A Berlin communique admits that the Russians, strongly supported by tanks and aeroplanes, are again attacking the German and Rumanian positions in the Kerch Peninsula, but says that the attacks are being repulsed. Russian troops in the Ukraine have inflicted on the enemy further heavy losses of men and material. The Soviet communique says that the

booty includes many guns, five ammunition dumps, and quantities of equipment. Further south, enemy counter-attacks have been repulsed, and 20 enemy tanks destroyed. The military correspondent of “Pravda” reports that on the central front the Russians have recaptured an important point, and that in this region the Germans have lost 1300 t men. The correspondent says the enemy is being forced to retreat under the, heavy blows of the Red Army, which retains the initiative. The Berlin radio admits heavy Russian attacks round Vyazma, where the Russians are trying to close the "sack” round the German forces northeast of Smolensk. German Losses The toll of German dead and losses of equipment mounts daily, and a special Moscow communique says that between February 22 and March 10, on the north-west front (in the region of Staraya Russa), the Russians killed 14,000 Germans and freed 84 populated places. Twenty-four. German pilots have been captured in the last few days in one sector of the north-west front as a result of the shooting down of transport aeroplanes attempting to supply the encircled German 16th Army at Staraya Russa. On the same front, during the same period, Russians captured great booty, including 157 guns, 20 tanks, and one aeroplane, and destroyed a great number of weapons, including 91 aeroplanes, amongst which were 60 three-engined transport aeroplanes, 67 guns, and 14 tal “Red Star” says that the German reserves at present being thrown m are definitely inferior to the troops used last summer. It is not certain whether the German command is holding back better divisions for the spring, but many of those reaching the front recently have been inadequately trained. A German captured in the Yukhnov area said that he had been a welder at Saarbrucken until January 23 when he was called up. His unit was quickly sent to Bryansk, from Where he was immediately flown to the front. The men of this unit were mostly between the ages of 35 and 40. Saturday’s official news from Russia was confined to a communique recording offensive operations against the Germans on several sectors on Friday night. The point is made in authoritative circles in London that there is less snow in South Russia, which makes likely the employment of larger forces there than in the still frozen north. Fortifications make even villages difficult to take except as the successful result of “dogfights.” The villages are well equipped, and tank attacks are difficult because it is easy to lay anti-tank mines in the snow. Saturday’s Russian communique said: “On March 13 our troops continued offensive battles against the German Fascist troops, and made progress. On some sectors of the front the enemy went over to counter-attacks, which were beaten off with heavy losses for the enemy. On Thursday 24 German aircraft were destroyed. Our losses were seven aircraft.” German 16th Army German spokesmen are beginning to betray exasperation at mention .of Staraya Russa, where their 16th Army is fighting what, even to Berlin military authorities, now seems a losing battle. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” states that the 16th Army’s living space is continually diminishing. Less has been heard in the last few days of operations 'by German aeroplanes at Staraya Russa, where the Russians have apparently gained'air superiority, as Russian divebombers are now reported to be active against the congested masses of German troops. The Red Army is also successfully aiding the Russian artillery to reduce German strong points. The Russians have'made appreciable territorial gains around Dorogobuzh, where they at present seem to be advancing on a broad front. Moscow radio said on Friday that the Germans .had lost three battalions of infantry in fierce fighting which was proceeding for a key road on the central front. The Russians on Thursday repulsed a strong German counterattack and were making a bid to cut into the German lines. The Tass Agency reported on Friday that the Russians at several points on the south-western front breached the enemy’s defence lines. Fierce fighting continued on this front. The Berlin radio reports that violent fighting has been resumed on the Finnish front. It states that the Russians attacked, strongly supported by tanks and artillery. The battle is continuing. In the south, the Germans claim they are maintaining their positions iri the Taganrog area against

heavy Russian attacks, but the German tbne is less 'confident about developments north-west of Stalino, where Berlin’s reticence suggests that Marshal Timoshenko's battering ram is regaining territory. Berlin admits that Marshal Timoshenko has massed a formidable army, also that the Russians are at present showing a strong aggressive spirit and at attacking in wave after wave. A retired Turkish general, the Emir Erkilet, in a newspaper article, describes an interview with Hitler, in which Hitler declared his hope that the spring offensive would smash through Rostov. Hitler declared: “We will advance through Rostov, cutting the Russian lines of communication with the Caucasus and the Volga, as a result of which the Russian armies will be deprived of oil.” Higher Pay Proposed.—A combined Military Affairs Committee approved a bill increasing the pay of men in the Army and Navy to 43 dollars a month from 21 dollars.—Washington, March 13.