Recapture of Sychevka After Fierce Fight

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 58, 10 March 1943, Page 5

Recapture of Sychevka After Fierce Fight

Russians Drive on From Rjev

(British Official Wireless.) Received Tuesday, 7.30 p.m. RUGBY,, Mar. 8. The news of the recapture of dyehevka, a town anil railway station 48 miles north ox Viazma on the ivjev- \ iazma railway ana the northern extreme of the v iazma pociiet, was announced in a special ivussian communique. It stated that after two days ox stubborn lighting the Russians broke the enemy 's resistance and re-occupieu dychevka. Eight planes, 310 tanks, 40 guns and 215 railway trucks Were captured. The enemy lost in killed alone about 8000. The fury of the Orel battle has not waned. The Moscow correspondent of the Times says that the German “bolt” positions have thus far prevented the Russians from appreciably making the passage between Orel and Bryansk into a bottleneck. The German radio to-night asserted that the Russians had made a powerful offensive north-west of Orel. The Germans also claim the recapture of a number of localities, bringing them 12 miles west of Kharkov, “wither the Russians are retreating, covered by rearguards.” Marshal Timoshenko’s armies are now attacking southward with, according to the Germans, great masses of artillery and tanks in numerical preponderance. Tho Moscow correspondent of the Times says that Marshal Timoshenko is gradually improving his positions in difficult terrain. The Donetz Basin battle has still not reached its climax, German resistance has stiffened west of Rostov, where the Russians are reported to have established a foothold across an important river, probably the Mius. The Russians are still grappling with the big force of armour and mechanised infantry south of Voroshilovgrad, but they have forced back the enemy.