NEMY WIPED OUT IN TAGANROG AREA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24043, 3 September 1943, Page 5

NEMY WIPED OUT IN TAGANROG AREA

CN.2. Press Association—Copyright) '(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. Messages from Moscow this morning say that the Russians are less than 40 miles from Smolensk in their drive from Elnya. The Russians last night announced that they had advanced another five to eight miles on this front and occupied 200 places, including Dorogobuzh. The Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorius, considers that the main Soviet effort is being made on the Bryansk front. “The enemy is making an immense effort to capture Bryansk with pincers north and north-west of Sievsk and west of Zhizdra,” he said. Last night’s Soviet communique said that the Russians south of Bryansk yesterday advanced four to six miles and occupied more than 60 places, including the railway town of Komarichi, 60 miles south-east of Bryansk. The Russians make no detailed claims about the fighting west and south-west of Kharkov. They say only that they advanced in some sectors and took several places. They speak of advances of four to six miles on the Donets front and the freeing of more than 30 places, including the mining centre of Krasnyluch, 52 miles east of Stalin. The enemy troops trapped in the Taganrog area have been liquidated. The German 17th, 111 th, and 294 th Divisions and the 15th Paratroop Division were routed and more than 35,000 Germans killed. Great quantities of enemy equipment, including more than 200 aircraft and 537 tanks, were destroyed. In addition, considerable booty was captured intact.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent declares: “Smolensk and Bryansk, the two biggest fortresses the Germans still hold, are directly threatened as ' the Russians tear new gaps in the Germans’ harassed lines. The Russians are still pressing on towards Smolensk from Elnya, 'and the Smolensk bastion is threatened as never before., “The Germans’ forced withdrawal from the Voroshilovgrad area is typical of the retirements they have been compelled to make in order to avoid being' outflanked by fierce Russian thrusts. German High Command communiques for some time have dwelt on the strength of the Russian Attacks . south-west of Voroshilovgrad, and now the Russians, with the capture of Glukhov and Rylsk, have broken into the northern Ukraine. The enemy apparently realises that the whole of the Ukraine may be untenable.” The correspondent adds that on the Smolensk and Sievsk fronts the' Russians are meeting strong resistance and fierce battles are being waged. The wake of the retreating Germans is strewn with hundreds of corpses, smashed tanks, and wrecked guns. Russian dive-bombers are operating in exceptional strength everywhere. Smolensk Defence Line The Stockholm correspondent of •The Times” says: “The Smolensk defence line now rests on three rivers—the Soj, the upper Dnieper, and the Vop. The Russians have already crossed the upper Dnieper, but they still have to force the Vop, which is not a formidable barrier. Nevertheless, it is very premature to consider that Smolensk faces immediate capture, because there is no indication that the Russians intend to make a frontal assault. “The Germans certainly have longprepared, strong positions behind the present front, and it now appears certain that they intend, if they are pressed, to retire to them for the winter near or along the Dnieper, but not before the winter, because that would enable the Russians to advance their bases and restore the railways before the ground is frostbound.” The Berlin radio, admitting that the German lines in the Voroshilovgrad area have been withdrawn, said; “They were subjected to furious attacks aiming at a complete break-through, but the withdrawal of our lines averted this. The Russians are continually hurling fresh troops into the attacks in order to give fresh impetus to their offensive." Soviet Concentrations The Berlin radio added: “On the central Donets front, where for the last few days calm has reigned, new Russian concentrations have been observed, foreshadowing fresh actions. The Russians have massed several rifle divisions and strong tank formations, and have concentrated artillery. They have formed a mixed assault unit ready to launch a frontal attack.” In a later broadcast the Berlin radio said that Russian troops and tanks were successfully infiltrating into the German lines west of Kharkov. “Our troops here,” it added, “found that they were fighting a two-front battle, being attacked from the rear and the front. Whole German regiments for several days were surrounded, and our infantry could do little against the enemy’s giant forces. Powerful Russian tank forces pressed back the German lines until we were able to muster reserves.” “Red Star,” describing the fall of Glukhov, said that the Russians in their first attacks broke through the * German defences in several directions, and then, by applying simultaneous

Eressure in other sectors, widened the reach to 60 miles. The German command made every effort to stem the Russians. It rushed up considerable reinforcements and launched counterattacks, all of which were repulsed. The Germans then began to retreat. The Russians’ speedy appearance in Glukhov surprised the Germans, who brought up further considerable forces and counter-attacked. The northern outskirts of the town repeatedly changed hands, but Russian tommygunners, mounted on tanks, broke in to the centre and destroyed or took prisoner the garrison, which had not succeeded in retreating. Battle For Rylsk “Red Star’’ added that fighting was simultaneously going on for Rylsk. Strong Russian attacks north of Rylsk drew off part of the German forces from the town. The Russians struck a sudden blow through the northern defences, emerging to the north-west and isolating the town from Glukhov. They also broke through to the southeastern outskirts of the town, after which decisive attacks were launched from both directions. The German War Office, in an endeavour to explain the continued retreat on the Eastern Front, suddenly said: “The possibilities of British ana American invasion attempts have forced the High Command to withdraw strong reserves and concentrate them in western and southern Europe, with full confidence that the remaining troops are sufficiently strong to frustrate any Russian thrust.” “The Times.” in a leading article, says: “Nobody, least of all the Germans, expected the Red Army to be capable this summer of such gigantic exertions. The Germans are trying to console and hearten themselves 'by asserting that Russia is exhausting herself with her last effort, but many last efforts have been ascribed to the Russians.”