THREAT TO RAILWAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1942, Page 7

THREAT TO RAILWAY

SOVIET RECAPTURE OF DOROGOBUZH

LONDON, February 25.

The recapture of Dorogobuzh represents a serious threat to the VyazmaSmolensk railway, which is the only railway available to the Germans in the event of a retreat from the Vyazma and Rzhev areas. Tlie Russians are now only 15 miles south of the railway, while; Russian raiders are most active to the north of the railway, preparing the way for the advance of substantial bodies of regulars. The Stockholm correspondent of "The Times" says Russian reports will possibly soon reveal that the northern arm of General Zhukov's army is on or near the Vyazma-Smolensk railway.

Moscow radio has recorded particularly heavy German losses on the central front. It claims that the Russians are smashing stubborn resistance and driving on.

According to a report from Stockholm, the Red Army is increasingly using parachutists, who are landing in the rear of the German lines and cooperating with partisans, causing confusion among the enemy and inflicting heavy destruction on transports. Military circles in Berlin admit the effectiveness of these operations, and declare their- admiration for men who are prepared to make descents in tern-

peratures of 30 or 40 degrees below zero. Berlin concedes that the Russia*

parachutists are well trained and knou how to defend themselves.