ENEMY PRESSURE

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1943, Page 5

ENEMY PRESSURE

RUSSIAN STAND Being Maintained EAST OF KHARKOV. LONDON, March 22. A Moscow message stated: The battle in the Chuguyev area (due east of Kharkov) is growing in scope as Red Army resistance stiffens, with the Russians capturing the initiative in some places and forcing the enemy to withdraw. Specially fierce fighting is in progress for an unnamed place which has changed hands a number' of times. Another Moscow message stated: East of Kharkov the Russians are fighting one of the most magnificent defensive battles of the war. The Gerrhans have made no deep impression on the Russian line, and are making no further progress towards the achievement of their main objective in this area—the capture of the Donetz crossings. After three days of some of the grimmest fighting of the Russian war, into which the Germans have been ceaselessly pour--1110 reinforcements, including, according to one report, 200,000 men from the Western regions, the Red Army lines remain unbroken along the Nothern Ilonetz. At some points it has been obliged to fall back. Nevertheless the position remains critical for the Russians, not only o n the Donetz, but also round Byelgorod. The Associated Press, reports that Russians at Chuguyev .have strongly resisted large-scale German attempts to cross the Donetz. Moscow “Pravda" reports thai several settlements in this area were continually changing hands, as the Red Army stiffened its resistance. The latest supplementary Russian communique speaks of the repulse of a numoer of German attacks 1n the area south-east of Kharkov, where the enemy has tried several times to press’ back the Russians and occupy a water barrier, but all these efforts have bee n repelled. Despatches from Moscow indicate, a slackening of the German thrusts, which correspondents attribute to a stiffening of the Russian resistance, and to General von Manstein feeling the strain of losses. The fact that the Germans are now using small tank groups infiltration instead of massive columns may also be due to attrition. Another report stated. The Russians are parrying the enemy’s new manoeuvres against their flanks with artillery and anti-tank rifle tire. The Germans have’made onlv lodal gains, although they are attacking in waves of 300 tanks and two 1 battalions of infantry. ~ Moscow still has not confirmed the German claim to have captured Chuguyev. Beilin radio commentators to-night emphasised the quietude of the southern wing, which the German News Agency ascribes to the need for regrouping after the tank and motorised formations’ forced marches across bad roads due to the thaw. The News Agency added that the German operations have now been in progress for five weeks, and that local halts are essential during such a large-scale offensive. A most significant present feature is a lull between Taganrog and Byelgorod, also 1 in that territory the Germans have won south-west and north-west of Kursk. General Dietmar, broadcasting from Berlin what he claimed to be “the Winter battle epilogue," asserted that the battle was still raging in some areas in the last act of a . successful counter-offensive, which reached a climax in the reconquest of Kharkov, sealing off' the most dangerous breach in the German lines. The fighting, was ending, he said, because the thaw and. the mud enforced a lull. Russian Position Harder ALONG THE DONETZ

ENEMY PRESSURE GREATER. LONDON, March 22. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the position or the Russians in the Ukraine has deteriorated considerably with the loss of Byelgorod. Kursk is now seriously threatened. The Russians are on the defensive at Bryansk and in the Donetz Basin, and their communications are becoming worse while those of the Germans are improving. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: The German offensive on the Donetz front is still gathering strength. The heaviest pressure is still against the Chuguyev bridgehead and Syelgorod area. The German Command is doing everything it can to break through the Russian defences at Chuguyev, a move which it successful, would threaten, the right flank and even th« rear of the Russian forces from Voroshilovgrad to Rostov. i . Correspondents emphasise tnai a the Germans are able to cross the Donetz in force, at Chuguyev (east of Kharkov) the loss of which Moscow has not yet confirmed, the entire Russian line from the region of Byelgorod to Voroshilovgrad will be imperilled. Hitler, totally disregarding huge losses, is striving desperately to establish a bridgehead across the Donetz before the Spring thaw, m the race against which his losses are reported to already run into lOU.uuu killed and wounded. Moscow still has not confirmed the capture of Chuguyev, but does not attempt to disguise that the position is serious. ' . Recent Russian conquests south or Kursk are imperilled by the German thrusts in t!he middle Donetz, where the situation in some sectors is regarded as critical. ■ To-day’s German communique states; “In the Kharkov-Byelgorod sector we have reached the Upper Donetz on a wide front, while in the Sevsk area we have closed the last remaining gap and established a firm line of communication with the Orel sector.” GERMANS ACROSS DONETZ. IN IZYUM AREA. LONDON, March 22. The British United- Press correspondent at Moscow states: Waves of German tanks and armoured units are attacking incessantly at • single points in tlhe middle Donetz, whcin the Germans, have crossed at several places in the Izyum area. The Russians in th© Donetz Basin .are on the defensive and their communications are growing worse. NEW GERMAN ATTACK. HELD NORTH OF BRYANSK. '> LONDON, March 22. A new front has opened up between the central and southern fronts. This .is 40 miles north ot

Bryansk, where the Germans have begun another major attack Russian troops on the first day routed a German infantry regiment, and bv the second day had killed 2000 Germans. The fighting continues,, and so far the Russians are holding firmly to their ground. The British United Press says: The German attack on the Shisdr?. area, north-east of Bryansk, is aimed at checking Russian columns advancing towards Bryansk from the north.