THE CENTRAL FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1942, Page 5

THE CENTRAL FRONT

RUSSIAN PROGRESS

LONDON, February 24.

The Russian offensive on the Central front has resulted in the capture of Dorogobuzh, which lies al^ out 200 mile* west of Moscow and 45 miles east of Smolensk on the road from Vyazma.

Describing the capture of this town, Moscow radio says the attack opened at dawn after a terrific all-night barrage by the Soviet artillery. Strong forces of infantry and tanks, which had been massed in secret, were then hurled against the enemy.

A Soviet communique states that in the Kalinin sector of the front fourteen localities have been retaken by Soviet troops during the last two days. A considerable quantity of war material was captured, and the enemy lost over 500 officers and men killed.

Other local successes which are claimed in unspecified sectors of the front, together with lists of enemy war material destroyed and captured, give the impression that in spite of the growing German resistance the Soviet forces are continuing their advance westwards.

Berlin admits that the Russians are advancing in the Vyazma sector and through the hilly country south of Lake Ilmen.

Counter-attacking in a village on the central front from which they were driven a few days ago, the Germans continually threw in new troops, but all the attacks were repulsed. The Germans left 400 dead at the approaches to the village.

A Russian submarine recently passed through the Baltic minefield and sank four ships, totalling: 40,000 tons, including a 17,000-ton, tanker.

A Norwegian news agency says that the Germans have ordered half a million pairs of skis from Norway for next winter's campaign in Russia.

Berlin radio admits serious fighting north-east of Lake Ilmen. Russians broke through in one sector, but were surrounded and annihilated. Strong Russian forces are now attacking the Volkhov area.

A German military spokesman, broadcasting, asserted that probably more Russian soldiers had frozen to death than Germans, because the Russians were less hardened than the Germans, especially the last German reinforcements. The Germans in the spring would continue "from Vyazma and Kiev, where Nature forced them to leave off."