Towns Changing Hands Several Times

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 50, 1 March 1943, Page 5

Towns Changing Hands Several Times

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 28.

A Soviet communique states that on Saturday Russian troops fought offensive battles in the same direction as before. The chief fighting in the last few days, according to Moscow reports, has been in the north-western part of the Donetz Basin where strong German counter-attacks around Krasnoarmeisk made some progress. The Germans also claim progress further west in the Lozayaya area. Russian advances on a small scale continue between Kharkov and Orel but there is no confirmation from Russian sources of an offensive further north.

Fighting in the Donetz area is to-day described in Moscow reports as of the fiercest and on the largest scale of any contests on the entire eastern front. The Germans are fighting to recapture Ivramatorskaya and Krasnoarmeisk at any cost, with the result that a nuqiber of places are changing hands several times. This is stated to be tho first enemy effort which has succeeded in halting the Soviet advance. The Russians, however, Tetain the initiative in this and neighbouring sectors with encirclement as a constant threat to the heavily reinforced German army. It appears the Germans have temporarily taken the offensive in this sector. It has been obvious for some time they are able to produce enough troops to hold the Russians. Now they are hitting back. This is largely accounted for by the way in which the Russian communications are stretched by the long advance.