RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1942, Page 5

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

BIGGEST YET 1 Marked Success on First x Day : 45 MILES EAST OF SMOLENSK. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, February 24. The big new Russian offensive which opened on the central front resulted on Monday in the capture of Dorogobuzh, 180 miles west or Moscow and 45 miles east of Smolensk and 10 miles south of the road from Viazma to Smolensk. < A Moscow communique on luesday stated that on Monday night Russian forces continued activity against the enemy. Moscow radio stated that the first day of the twenty-fifth year of the Red Army had thus begun well. It stated that in part of Dorogobuzh, strong forces of infantry and tanks had been massed during the night • and at dawn iscores of guns opened fire on strong German positions. Ine 1 barrage moved forward and then the, 1 infantry began to advance, covered 1 by tanks. I Russia was heartened by the news v of the recapture of Dorogobuzh,,, which is situated at the junction oi the roads from Jelnia, Smolensk, and , Viazma. These roads are claimed to be more important in winter than the railways. A dispatch from the Dorogubuzh sector says that the initiative is nowin Russian hands. An intense battle is raging elsewhere in the Smolensk Province, with the retreating Germans continuing their policy of setting fire to everything that will burn. , , , According to the Stockholm “Dagens Nyheter,” the Russians have recaptured the important village ot Panino, 14 miles northward of Rzhev, also 15 other villages in this area. Messages from Stockholm say that Soviet forces have captured Babmo, 30 miles north of Rzhev, as well as j several places on the Leningrad front. - Moscow newspapers talk of immense Russian reserves moving up to the front. Among them are masses of cavalry. It was a series of attacks by cavalry which opened the great Russian counter-offensive. The Germans lost 2,200 men m three days’ fighting on the Leningrad front, where the Red Army recaptured 13, villages. It is reported from the southern front that a Russian division in the past tour moriths killed 18,000 Germans. German Admission BIGGEST RUSSIAN COUNTER STROKE.

APPEAL TO HOLD TILL SPRING.

LONDON, February 24. Admitting the danger of the situation on the Leningrad front, the Berlin radio has appealed to the Germans to hold out at all costs tillthe Spring. , , .. Russia, it said, had launched the biggest counter-offensive of the war. Hundreds of thousands of newlyarrived well-equipped troops rrom Siberia were attacking the German positions near Leningrad, in the Valdai Hills, near Smolensk, in the Donets, and in the Crimea. The Germans at Leningrad had been forced to take up better positions more westward of the city. . Smolensk, Dnepropetrovsk, and Sebastopol are theatres of the biggest and bloodiest battles in the history of mankind. The Germans cannot afford to yield another incn. The Germans are throwing in the largest number of parachute troops since Crete, in an attempt to halt the Russian efforts to relieve Leningrad, says the Berlin military spokesman. The “Daily Express” says: . General Model has succeeded Guderian as Hitler’s No. 1 mechanised warfare expert. Model is an exponent of the “advance at all costs” method of offensive. His advancement since the outbreak of the war has been rapid.

12,000 Germans Killed

IN RUSSIAN CIRCLING MOVE.

(Rec. 7.30). LONDON, February 2b. About ten days ago Soviet troops on the north-western front, under General Karichkin, began an en- ' circling movement, against the Sixteenth German Army in the region of Staraya-Russa. An encirclement was completed a few days ago. There was a refusal by the German Army, which is commanded by General yon Busch, to surrender. Soviet, troops therefore started an attack. One infantry division of the Second Army Corps, commanded by General Hanzen, and an S.S. division were routed. The Germans left 12,000 killed on the battlefield, and an immense quantity of war material, including food and ammunition was captured. During the fighting Soviet troops commanded by Generals Morozov, Gryaznov, and Bergavin, specially distinguished themselves. Russian Onset NEARING SMOLENSK RAILWAY. SOVIET PARACHUTISTS PRAISED BY GERMANS. (Rec. 10.30). LONDON, Feb. 24. The recapture of Doroghobuj represents a serious threat to the Viazma' and Rjev areas. The Rus- i sians are now only 15 miles southwards of the railway there, while Russian . raiders are most active northwards of the railway, preparing the way for an advance by substantial bodies of regulars. "The Times” Stockholm correspondent says: “Russian reports will possibly soon reveal the northern arm of General Zhukov’s army as being on, or near, the Viazma-Smolensk railway. ”

Moscow radio recorded particularly heavy German fosses on the Central Front. .It claimed that Russian forces were smashing stubborn resistance by the enemy, and were driving on. Moscow radio reported fierce fight-. ing on the Southern Front, where, it stated, 14 more towns and villages, and two stations had been recaptured. The enemy attempted to coun-ter-attack, but they were repulsed. According to a report from Stockholm, the Red Army is increasingly using parachutists who are landing in the rear of German lines and cooperating with partisans in causing confusion among the enemy and in inflicting heavy destruction on ports.Berlin military circles admit the effectiveness of these parachute op- ; erations, and declare their' admiration for men who are prepared to make descents in temperatures of 30 or 40 degrees below zero., Berlin j concedes that Russian parachutists ar e well trained and know how to defend themselves. . r