RUSSIAN ADVANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1942, Page 5

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

STEADY PROGRESS REPORTED WAVES OF REINFORCEMENTS' LONDON, February 16. Russian reports record further progress in the Leningrad region and also on the southern front, particularly south of Kharkov. Berlin admits that the Russians are continuously attacking day and night. Increased German tank activity has been noticed, while in one sector of the central front the Germans, trying to ape the Russians, are using ski troops in night attacks. The Stockholm correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says the Russian High Command is flinging in wave after wave of reinforcements with the precision of a well-oiled machine. J r. The Leningrad radio says tnat Soviet troops on the northern front are breaking the resistance of the enemy and are clearing this area foot by foot. Enemy counter-attacks have been repelled. . , , • ~ Heavy fighting is reported on tne Kerch Peninsula, in the Crimea, which was reoccupied by Soviet troops some time ago. . , The mid-day Soviet communique says that active operations against the enemy continue night and day, and several more villages have been liberated in the central sector. In one action 1000 Germans were killed. In the Ukraine, the enemy was dislodged from a number of villages near Kharkov, and suffered heavy losses. German counter-attacks were repulsed. GERMANS OUTFLANKED. LONDON, February 16. The Russian forces advancing into White Russia are reported to have outflanked big German fortified points and to be driving swiftly in the direction of the old Polish frontier. A crack Soviet guards division has advanced 30 miles in the past three days and has freed scores of populated points, including 12 in 10 hours. The retreating Germans successively abandoned first cannon, then lorries, staff cars, and rifles. This latest spectacular Russian pro gress is believed to be designed to destroy one after another the fortified towns guarding Smolensk, rather than to encircle Smolensk, which is impossible with the present weather and the condition of the terrain.

STIFF RESISTANCE

LONDON, February 16. The Red Army is encountering greatly stiffened resistance on the central front, says the Red Star. The Russians are now entering zones where the Germans have had time to establish their system of defences. The system consists of a chain of centres of resistance with overlapping fire and supported by strong points. The Russians in some sectors have breached the forward lines of these defences. The Moscow’ radio reports that Kus sian guerrillas on the central front recently waged a 10-day oattle against a large German unit 01. guen *1 as and occupied 41 localities, killed 1000 Gei mans, destroyed several tanks, and cantured substantial booty. . Agency reports say that Soviet pi assure 8 south-east of Velikye Luki continues and that the Russians aie ad vancing in other sectors.

GERMAN LOSSES HEAVY

RUGBY, February 16

A supplementary Russian communique says: On February 14 Soviet Air Force units destroyed or damaged 125 lorries with troops and equipment, three transport buses, 60 ammunition waggons, 11 guns, blew up one ammunition dump, set on hie 20 railway waggons, and routed ana partlv annihilated three infantry batDuring the period February 1 to 14, the Germans lost 269 planes, including 137 in aerial combat. . rhirty-ioiu were shot down by anti-aircraft guns, and 98 were destroyed on the grouna. Our losses were 83. OFFENSIVE CONTINUED RUGBY, February 16. A Soviet communique states: Our troops on February 16 continued thenoffensive operations against the enemy. A number of localities weie captured, and heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy in man power and war equipment. On February 15, 11 German planes were shot down in aerial combat. Oui losses were seven. On February lb, three German planes were shot down near Moscow. SOVIET NAVAL SUCCESSES. RUGBY. February 16. The Moscow radio states: Since the start of the war, the Soviet Navy has sunk 81 enemy warships and 276 auxiliary ships. In the Barents Sea, two destroyers and four submarines have been sunk. One Soviet submarine sank seven enemy ships, totalling 35,800 tons. In the Baltic Sea, 65 enemy transports and 12 submarines nave been sunk. . . The Soviet Navy, it is stated, 's playing an important part in the defence of Leningrad and Sebastopol, and by constant raids has inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in manpower and weapons. It has also destroyed a great number of enemy fortifications. Important objectives in Rumania have also been shelled.