Russians Driving Against Triangle

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 57, 9 March 1943, Page 5

Russians Driving Against Triangle

Line of Napoleons Retreat

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, Mar. 7. Advancing swiftly westward from Gjatsk (captured yesterday) along the line of Napoleon’s disastrous retreat of 1812, the Russians are now thrusting against the strategic Viazma-Smolensk-Nikitinka triangle. The lastnamed is 75 miles from Smolensk and 35 miles from the important ViazrnaSmolßnsk railway, to which it is connected by a branch line. According to Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, this triangle is the focal point of a vast onslaught in which the Red Army is striking against the toughest and longest-held sector of Hitler’s defences, extending 700 miles from Staraya Russa to Orel. The Viazma triangle is the last bastion of an offensive and defensive quadrangle which is a strongly-defended area protecting the Yartseva-Smolensk railway line. In the past 24 hours the Russians, driving from Gjatsk, have greatly reduced the 40 miles separating them from Viazma. They are occupying townships and villages at the rate of one an hour in the teeth of stubborn rearguard actions and raging blizzards. Other columns swinging south from Rjev have captured dozens of places, and now imperil the railhead of Nikitinka. The capture of Nikitinka would gravely menace the only line of retreat for the Germans holding on to Viazma against increasing threats from the north and east. Despite the difficult terrain sometimes preventing tank operations, the rapidity with which Rjev and Gjatsk were recaptured suggests that Stalin’s strategy is developing satisfactorily. General Golikov is simultaneously carrying on a big attack against the Orel-Bryansk line from the south. His troops have pushed on westward, consolidating the position on a 90-miles front through the Sievsk, Dmitriev, Lgov and Sudja, of which the left flank is protected by the continued advance north-west from Kharkov. The Russians are also deuperfing the wedge between Orel and Kursk, and are rapidly clearing the railway from Bryansk to Konotop, which town is being approached by an advance from Sievsk. Reuter’s correspondent says that, despite the Red Army’s victories, the most difficult part of the task is ahead. The Germans have suffered serious setbacks, and the Russians still firmly grasp the initiative, yet it is estimated that Hitler still has about 180 German divisions in Russia, besides other Axis troops. WITHIN RANGE OF VIAZMA According to the Stockholm correspondent of The Times, the Russians are within gun range of Viazma’s outer defences, but their plan is not mainly to drive back the enemy, but to destroy him, because there is little permanent advantage in forcing the Germans back to Poland and the Baltic provinces, where guerrillas cannot operate effectively as at present, when they are disorganising the German rear. The Germans have now less reason to hold Viazma in a vulnerable and useless salient. Already Berlin commentators are hinting at the probability oi abandonment. They also suggest that evacuation of Orel is likely in order to straighten the line in the sector, where the German position has undoubtedly worsened. The Russians are developing a drive on the whole stretch from Lake Ilmen to Lake Ladoga. . Simultaneously they are exerting strong pressure in the Kholm-Staraya Russa sector, where the Germans’ position is most precarious, because they will be penned against Lake Ilmen unless they withdraw, for a Russian break-through here would oe very serious for the whole northern position of the Germans, who are oeing strongly reinforced. The Russians are remarkably active over the entire stretch westward of Orel and Kharkov, particularly between Sumy and Rornny, and also in the neighbourhood of the sorely-menaced Rylsk. The Russians in one sector where operations are of more than local importance, captured 50 guns and inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans in the last two days. IMPORTANCE OF GJATSK Moscow correspondents stress the importance of the reoccupation oi Gjatsk, which is one of the most heavily-fortified hedgehogs in Russia and one of the Germans’ principal bases for munitions, oil and spare parts. The Germans threw in everything possible to hold the defences, extending a horseshoe around the city. The density of the German firing points can be judged from the fact that they installed in some sectors 150 pillboxes to the square mile, all linked with deep trenches and roofed with logs, forming a honeycomb. A Russian artiiery bombardment tore wide gaps in the German lines, through which tanks, under the cover of snowstorms, penetrated, infantry following up and mopping up strongpoints. The assault developed a terrific punch as reserves came in, out they met an apparently impenetrable barrier ol crossfire and peril of double envelopment from ski troops, who traversed the snow-clad forests and forced the Germans to divert part of their strength, whereupon the Russians, increasing pressure on every side, burst in, completing tho capture after six hours' street fighting. The Germans set fire to most of the remaining buildings before retreating.