A VILLAGE EVERY HOUR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 139, 9 March 1943, Page 5

A VILLAGE EVERY HOUR

Swift Russian Gains CENTRAL FRONT OFFENSIVE

Stubborn Resistance (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received March 8, 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. Advancing swiftly westward from Gzhatsk along the line of Napoleon’s disastrous retreat of 1812, the Russians are now thrusting agaiust the strategic Vyazma-Smolensk-Nikitinka triangle. The last-named town is 75 miles from Smolensk and 35 miles from the important Vyaama-Smolensk railway, to which it is connected by a branch line. According to Reuter's Moscow correspondent, this triangle is the focal point of a vast onslaught in which the Red Army is striking against the toughest and longest-held sector of Hitler’s defences, extending 700 miles from Staraya Russa to Orel. In the past 24 hours the Russians, driving from Gzhatsk, have greatly reduced the 40 miles separating them from Vyazma, and they have been occupying townships and villages at the rate of one every hour in the teeth. of stubborn rearguard actions in raging blizzards. Other columns, swinging southward from Rzhev, have captured dozens of places and are now imperilling the railhead of Nikitinka. Capture of Nikitinka would gravely menace the only line of retreat for the Germans who are holding on at Vyazflia against the increasing threats from the north and east. In spite of the difficult terrain which sometimes prevents tank operations, the rapidity with which Rzhev and Gzhatsk were recaptured suggests that M. Stalin s strategy is developing satisfactorily. Below The Bulge. General Golikov , is simultaneously carrying on a big attack against the Orel-Bryansk line from the south. His troops have pushed on westward and consolidated their VO miles’ front through Sevsk. Dmitriev, Lgov and Sudja, the left flank of which has been protected by the continued advance to the north-west from Kharkov. The Russians are also deepening the wedge between Orel and Ktirsk and are rapidly clearing the railway from Bryansk to Konotop, which town is being approached by the advance from Sevsk. . Marshal Timoshenko s troops, continuing their offensive in the north, have made progress, and the enemy admits the loss of another hedgehog in this stronglydefended area. Moscow reports heavy fighting on the southern front south-west of Voroshilovgrad, in the Donetz Basin, .lhe Germans have sent in large forces of tanks and infantry. At one point, where 60 tanks attacked, they were thrown right back with the loss of 12 of them.