POSSIBLE NEW OFFENSIVE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23883, 27 February 1943, Page 5

POSSIBLE NEW OFFENSIVE

REPORTED RUSSIAN MOVES ACTION WEST OF MOSCOW (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 25. Messages reaching Stockholm suggest that the Russians are on the eve' of their greatest offensive on the centra} and northern fronts. The Stockholm correspondent of the “’Daily Telegraph" says: “The Russians are strongly attacking Gzhatsk, which is the corner-stone of the defences covering Vyazma and Smolensk. Bitter fighting is raging, with both sides throwing in strong forces of bombers and fighters. Russian armoured units and infantry, and endless supply columns are streaming to the front north of Rzhev, and also at the southern and northern tips of Lake Ilmen. German

bombers are doing their utmost to smash these columns, but the Russians have strong fighter support, while lorries cruise beside the marching men, spreading smoke screens.”

Determined Russian attacks are reported north-east and south-east of Novgorod, which is a big German supply base. One column is driving down the Volkhov Valley towards Novgorod. and another is attacking across the ice of Lake Ilmen.

It appears likely that a major engagement is progressing west and south-west of Moscow, where the Germans report that the Russians are attacking in force. Moscow is silent about this sector, which is customary in the opening phases of all important thrusts. Russian gains in this area would imperil Rzhev, Bryansk, and Orel, which are the anchor points of the German winter line. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says the scale and intensity of the battle for Orel are rapidly increasing. Hard fighting is going on north and south of Orel, the battle for which appears to be reaching a climax. He adds that indications point to really large-scale Russian operations west of Moscow, where massed artillery and armoured units are reported to be in action. Russian preparations behind smokescreens in the Vyazma and Rzhev areas indicate that these are likely to become active battle zones. The German positions her? are more heavily fortified than in any other part of the front, and the enemy can only be shifted by massed artillery. The Russians for a year have been accumulating guns and shells on this relatively quiet front. Operations on the Lake Ilmen front have really gathered in intensity this week. The whole area is now very active, the Russians attacking on broad fronts north and south of the lake. Operations are probably occurring across the lake, the ice of which will still bear moderately heavy traffic. According to the Berlin radio, fighting on the central part of the eastern front is moving northwards because of the thaw. Violent Russian attacks are reported from the region of Lake Ilmen.

POLAND AND RUSSIA OFFICIAL , STATEMENT (Roc. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb, 25. The Polish Government in London, in a statement on Polish-Russian relations. said: “The Polish Government definitely repudiates malicious propaganda accusing Poland of direct or indirect inimical tendencies' towards Russia. It is absurd to suspect Poland of the intention to base the eastern boundaries of the Polish Republic on the Dnieper or the Black Sea, or to impute to Poland tendencies to move her frontiers further eastwards.” CONDITIONS IN GERMANY REPORTED REIGN OF TERROR NEW YORK, Feb. 25. The Berne correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that in order to make up for the loss of prestige on the Russian front, the Nazi Party has instituted a veritable reign of terror at home, coincident with the civilian mobilisation decree. Heartrending scenes, fights, and shootings occurred when Gestapo patrols dragged off unsuspecting men and women to barracks and factories.

The latest Gestapo terror has even reached the top ranks of the party. For example, the Gestapo is reported to have shot a high-placed German diplomat and sent his wife to a concentration camp for alleged seditious activities. It is privately reported from Berlin that Himmler’s special Black-shirted S.S. army division has been disbanded and absorbed by the regular army, as a concession to the generals who have resumed command of military operations. DEATH PENALTY IN GERMANY ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND THEFTS (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 26, The Berlin radio says that Rotenberger, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, in a broadcast said that the death penalty was the only remedy for acts of violence and habitual criminals. “It does not matter whether criminal acts are serious,” he said. “It is sufficient if persistent criminal acts have proved dangerous to the community. Accordingly acts of violence to women in black-outs and thefts of luggage and postal parcels, particularly those addressed to soldiers, have been punished by death. Nobody must consider himself so irreplaceable that he can commit criminal acts without punishment.”

MR CHURCHILL CONDITION STILL IMPROVING (Hec. 7.10 p.m.l LONDON, Feb. 25, Mr Churchill’s condition continues to improve, according to to-night's bulletin. “Mr Churchill yesterday sat up in bed and smoked a cigar—a sign that ho is recovering rapidly,” says the “Daily Mail.” The Press Association reported that Mr Churchill had had a good night. MR ROOSEVELT ILL WASHINGTON, Feb. 25. It is announced from the White House that Mr Roosevelt is ill from an intestinal disorder. His condition is not serious, but he has cancelled all engagement*