FRONTAL ATTACK

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 5

FRONTAL ATTACK

ON SMOLENSK RUSSIAN MOVING IN From North East DOUBLE THRUST IN PROGRESS LONDON, March 24. The Russian threat to Smolensk is growing as the Red Army, pushing on in its double 'thrust from tne north-east, is now only 32 miles from the stronghold at the nearest point. Following the penetration of the German defence line north of Dukhovschino, the Russians are in a position to attack Smolensk or cut it off from Yartsevo, which also is a great German base. The Russians have captured 80 townships in the offensive started two days ago north of Dukhovschino, which is a valuable road centre from which a road leads direct to Smolensk and another to Yartsevo. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent emphasises that further progress in this area must necessarily oe slow, as the fringes of the elaborateouter Smolensk defences have now been reached. Russian troops have reached a town 30 miles north-east of Smolensk, 'according to Tuesday night’s Soviet communique. To-day’s midday communique again reports lighting in the neighbourhood of the same town. It seems that this advance has been achieved by the Russian forces moving down from Byeloi. Further south the forces moving west along the railway from Viazma have , pressed bevond Durovo A Soviet supplementary communique stated: Enemy resistance lias been overcome in several localities on the central front which have been occupied. One Russian format'on crossed a river and occupied fortified positions. Safonovo, four kilometres north of Dorogobuj, was occupied, the enemy suffering heavy losses in men and material. North* of Dukhovschino, the Russians continued their offensive and occupiied seven localities. Fourteen German guns, live tanks and other booty were captured. Germans Forced Back IN FRONT OF SMOLENSK COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL (Rec. 11.40) LONDON, March 25. Repefated German. : counter-attacks failed to halt the Russian advance north of Dukhovshoehino, according to front line despatches quoted by the Moscow radio. German forces seven times counter-attacked against one Russian unit, but were driven back. The Germans finally began to retreat southwards, leaving hundreds of dead on the battlefield. Much lighting on this front is going on in the forest, where only small forces can operate. Picked Red Army units frequently infiltrate through German lipes, surprising them from the rear. One strongly-fortified, point was surrounded before it was stormed simultaneously. from four sides. All roads along the Germans’ line of retreat were thickly mined. Russians advancing along the west bank of the Upper Dneiper River repulsed -a fierce counter-attack, and knocked out 23 German tanks, j i

Thrust at i Smolensk BEING DEVELOPED. NEW RUSSIAN ATTACKS. (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON. March 25. ' Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says:— ; The Russians are developing » thrust towards Smolensk. Moscow radio says: The Russians are engaged in a frontal offensive against Smolensk, widening a bridgehead on the west bank' of the Upper Dnieper. Units, moving south-west of the Kholmz-Irkovsky region, freed seven inhabited localities yesterday, and fought to an!, important highway. The Russians in another sector reached the east bank of the Vop River. The Germans counterattacked and lost twenty-three tanks. The British United Press'; Moscow correspondent say: The Russians haye reached the outskirts of Dorogobug. ' ■ • , x It is reported 'from Berlin, that the Russians launched fresh fierce attacks south-west of "Viazma with ten infantry and nine armoured divisions. Donetz Battle LONDON, March 24. A Soviet communique stated; German attempts to cross the uppe>’ Donetz are still being repulsed On the front north-east of Kaarkov the Germans yesterday forced a crossing of the Donetz at a town east of Byelgorod. The Russians coun-ter-attacked, recaptured the town, and pushed the Germans back to the other side of the river. North of Chuguy-ev. there was fighting with enemy tanks and infantry. One enemy, attack cost them nine tanks. Hard fighting is in progress along the upper course of the River Ugra, with strong artillery, armour and infantry engaged on .both sides. The Germans say that the Russians are using flame throwers in this area. Germans Attacking BEYOND BYELGOROD. (Rec. 12.6.) LONDON, March 25. It is reported that the German .attacks against a new Russian line, east of Byelgorod, considerably weakened. The Germans are still pegging away, but they occupy the same positions that tney took ur> after the capture of Byelgorod five days ago.

Caucasus Campaign RUSSIANS RESUME ATTACK LONDON, March 24. Moscow reports a new Russian offensive against the remngnts of the Germans in the Caucasus. The Germans are not ousted from Novorossisk and the Taman Peninsula where they are trying to maintain as'large a bridgehead as possible for a further Caucasus venture. With their backs to the Kerch Strait and the Crimea the Germans have been compressed into an appreciably; smaller space in the past' few days. The Russians, after capturing Slavyanskaya, will probably make the next important objective Krymskaya Junction. • A Soviet communique stated: Our attacking /forces have recaptured the district centre and railway station ol: Abinskaya, north-east of Novorossisk. In the Kuban the Russians have recaptured several places, including Petrovoskoie, a railway town forty miles north-east of Novorossisk.

The Tass Agency states: The Germans are fiercely defending the western districts of the Kuban with an arc of concentrated fire, using as many as 25 machine-guns to half a mile of frontline. Formations of dive-bombers have arrived on this •front from Tunisia..