Soviets Thrust Swiftly On Line Of Napoleon's 1812 Defeat

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1943, Page 3

Soviets Thrust Swiftly On Line Of Napoleon's 1812 Defeat

(Received 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 7

ADVANCING SWIFTLY WESTWARDS FROM GJATSK n ALONG THE LINE OF NAPOLEON’S DISASTROUS RETREAT IN 1812, THE RUSSIANS ARE NOW THRUSTING AGAINST THE STRATEGIC VIAZMA-SMOLENSK-NIKI-TINKA TRIANGLE.

The last named is 75 miles from Smolensk and 35 miles from the important Viazma-Smolensk railway, to which it is connected by 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 the offensivedefensive quadrangle, which is the strongly defended area protecting the Yartsevo-Smolensk railway line.

Closing On Viazma

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 hourly in the teet of stubborn rearguard actions, raging in blizzards. Other columns, swinging southwards from Rjev, have captured dozens of places and now imperil the railhead at Nikitinka. Capture of Nikitinka would gravely menace the only line of retreat for the Germans, holding on at Viazma against increasing threats from north and west.

Despite difficult terrain sometimes preventing tank operations, the rapidity with which Rjev and Gjatsk were i ecaptured suggests that Stalin's strategy is developing satisfactorily. General Golikov simultaneously is carrying on a big attack against the OrelEryansk line from the south. His troops pushed on westward, consolidating the position on a 90-miles’ front through Sevsk, Dmitrivey, Lgov and Sudja. of which the left flank is protested by the continued advance north-west from Kharkov. The Russians are also deepening the wedge between Orel and Kursk and rapidly clearing the railway from Bryansk to Konotop, which town is being approached by the advance from Sevsk. Reuter adds that despite the Red Army's victories the most difficult part of the task lies 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 forces.

Aim to Destroy Germans

According to "The Times” correspondent at Stockholm, 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 where guerillas cannot operate as effectively as at present, when they are disorganising the German rear and facilitating every operation.

The Germans have now less reason to hold Viazma in a vulnerable, useless salient. Already Berlin commentators are hinting at. the probability of abandonment and also suggest that evacuation of Orel is likely in order to straighten the line in the sector where the Germans' position lias undoubtedly become worse.

On Leningrad Front

The Russians are developing a drive on the whole stretch from Lake Ladoga. Simultaneously they are exerting strong pressure on the KholmSlaraya Russa sector, where the German position is most precarious, because they will be penned against Lake Ilmen unless they withdraw in time. A Russian break-through here would bo very serious for the whole northern position of the Germans, who arc being strongly reinforced. The Russians are remarkably active on the entire stretch westward of Orel and Kharkov, particularly between Sumy and Romny and also the neighbourhood of sorely menaced Rylsk. The Russians on one sector, where operations are of more than local importance. have captured 50 guns and inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans in the past two days. Gjatsk Was Key Base Moscow correspondents stress the importance of the re-occupation of Gjatsk. which is one of the most heavily fortified hedgehogs in Russia and c.ne of the Germans’ principal bases for munitions, oil and spare parts. The Ger-, mans thro win everything possible to hold the defences extending in a horseshoe around the city.

The density of 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, roofed with logs forming a honeycomb. Russian artillery bombardment tore wide gaps in the German lines, through which tanks, under cover of snow storms, penetrated, infantry following up and mopping up strong points. The assault developed a terrific punch as reserves came in but met an apparently impenetrable barrier of crossfire and the peril of a double envelopment from ski troops who traversed snow-clad forests and forced the Germans to divert part of their strength, upon which the Russians. increasing pressure on every ride, burst in, completing the capture after six hours’ street fighting. The Germans set fire to most of the remaining buildings before retreating. Gjatsk Occupied A special Soviet communique states: “As a result of two assaults, Soviet troops occupied the town of Gjatsk. Booty is being counted.’’ Gjatsk was an important German strong point and the nearest to Moscow of those remaining in enemy hands. Situated on the Moscow-Viazma-Smolensk railway, its occupation indicates that the Red Army is closing on Viazma from at least two directions, an earlier Moscow message having announced the capture of Osuga, 10 miles southward of Rjev on the railway to Viazma. Booty captured at Osuga included 57 tanks. Other localities have been captured in advance of the Rjev area, but the Russians are facing very bitter resistance, including infantry and panzer counter-attacks. So determined is the resistance that the Germans have even launched counter-attacks during ths night, which is unusual for them. Tommy-gunners on Skis The Germans are also using a large number of mines and are also sending out mobile groups of Tommy-gunners on skis in attempts to ambush Soviet troops. The Russians are sending out specially trained units to destroy these

groups and isolated garrisons, while main Russian forces continued to advance.

Enemy counter-drives in the south have gained much ground up to the general line of the Donetz River. The Soviet have made no announcement concerning German progress, but evidently the area newly won by the Russians southward of Kharkov is threatened. Possession of that great city, however, gives the Russians strength they did not have when the Germans advanced in the same direction about a year ago. The Germans continue to speak of a new Russian offensive around Staraya Russa.

Significantly observing that the front above Kharkov which the Ger. mans previously described as fluid was tonight even more fluid, the Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that the chief Russian success was westward of Lgov, threatening Rylsk. the terminus of a branch line from Korenyevo, which is endangered by the Russian capture of Sudja. After the capture of Sevsk, the Russians are within striking distance of Bryansk-Knotop-Kiev railway. Russian progress in the apparently interminable Orel battle is not impressive measured in miles, but already it renders most precarious the road and railway linking Orel and Bryansk. It is doubtful whether the German withdrawal to escape envelopment of Orel can long be delayed. The Russians have closed in on the important 90-mile Viazma-Smolensk railway, which is the strongest fortified railway line the Germans hold in Russia. The Germans are still striking hard at the Slavyansk sector in a number of places on the Donetz, and' it has changed hands many times. A German Excuse Berlin spokesmen assert that winter operations in. the Donetz have virtually ended, and a lull is inevitable until the Germans begin their summer campaign. Berlin radio announced that after heavy artillery preparation the Russians have launched massive attacks on both sides of Staraya Russa.