INGENIOUS RUSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 151, 28 June 1943, Page 4

INGENIOUS RUSES

MUTUAL RECONNAISSANCE Rec. 1 p.m. , LONDON, June 27. The stabilisation of the RussoGerman front on long stretches of the northern part of the Donets River has created a situation of b6rder warfare, with incidents reminiscent of the old tales of frontier fighting:.between Cossacks and Tartar tribesmen on the Terek River or by Croat defenders of the Danubian marshes against Turks. The Russians and the Germans are each using; ingenious ruses to pass scouts through the other's lines. "Pravda" reports that the Germans are donning skirts, covering their heads and shoulders with shawls, and mincing down to the river with buckets. The; Russians, where the Donets is ' sufficiently narrow, have been throwing grenades against these sham peasants. The Russians are busy scouting the. right bank for information for their artillery. Recent films have shown some of the tricks used. For instance, soldiers drifting downstream under inflated sheepskins with all but their eyes submerged. There are occasionally brisk mortar and machine-gun 'exchanges and light artillery duels, and j i there are. sometimes more serious engagements when the onemy tries to force theI'river "with one or two battalions, supported by tanks, but the front recently has been very quiet. Today's Finnish communique states that after heavy artillery", preparation on June 26 the Russians attacked a strong-point near Rukajervi, which the Finns, after strong resistance, abandoned. Finnish troops during June 27 counter-attacked and recaptured this ! strong-point.!« Russian attacks in the i Karelian Isthmus were beaten off.