Soviet Offensive Slackening Alter 50 Days

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1943, Page 3

Soviet Offensive Slackening Alter 50 Days

fßec. noon) LONDON. Aug. 22. After 50 days of continual fighting the Russians’ mighty summer offensive, from the Smolensk front to the Khar, kov front, is showing signs of slackening in some sectors, declares Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The most difficult stage of the offensive has now been reached along the whole front, with the Russians’ efforts becoming a race against time. There is no longer any clearly defined front-line, but only a series of jags and bulges, which the Red Army is trying to fill in in order to avoid the danger of exposing its Hanks to counter-attacks. The offensive is now being waged under these complicated conditions against the obstinate resistance of the German reserves and reformed divisions. Kharkov Hard Nut

Reuter continues that Kharkov is proving a harder nut than at first believed. The Red Army has gained some fresh vantage points in the steel arc compressing the city, but German resistance is still tremendous. The enemy is still getting reinforcements through to Kharkov by the only remaining railway lines from Losovaya and Dnepropetrovsk. Correspondents agree the same story applies to the struggles in the Bryansk and Dcmensk sectors, where German resistance in the past few days has appreciably stiffened. •'The Times” Stockholm correspondent says the Russians at Kharkov have gained a little more ground here and there, but not on such an impressive scale as before the German counter-action began. The fiercest continual struggle is still located between Kharkov and the Donetz. where the Russians are ploughing slowly ahead from Smiyev to cut the main railway south-westward near Merel'a junction. Moscow has now disclosed that fighting is going on south-kvest of Voroshilovgrad. also 90 miles north of Rostov on a tributary of the Donetz River. Reuter concludes that this refers to the Mius River area, where Berlin radio last night admitted the Red Army had broken into German positions. To Beat General Mud

Paris radio's military commentator stated that as all operations on the eastern front will soon be bogged down by mud. M. Stalin has apparently marshalled the last of his forces and is about to order a final assault. Mass concentrations of Russian troops and tanks have been observed behind the whole front. 30 Places Occupied

The Soviet communique states: “On August 22 Soviet troops in the Kharkov direction, repelling' counter-attacks, advanced on some sectors from two-and-a-half to lour miles and occupied over 30 places. In the Bryansk direction and the area south-west of Spa and Dcmensk our troops continued fighting to improve their positions. "In the Donetz Basin, south of Isyum and south-west of Voroshilovgrad our troops waged successful local fighting. On August 21 Soviet troops, on all sectors, destroyed or damaged 187 tanks and 53 planes were shot down in aerial engagements or by anti-aircraft fire. The Russians’ main target now for completion of the isolation of Kharkov is Merefa. 15 miles south-west of Kharkov, say front-line despatches. The capture of Merefa means cutting oif the single railway line from Kharkov before it branches out into two main lines southwestwards below Merefa.

The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press reports that the Russians, despite desperately strong German resistance, have pushed back the bulge in tire German lines in front of Merefa. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that the Red Army has tightened its grip on Kharkov. A new advance in the past 24 hours has brought the Russians nearer the Kharkov-Crimea railway at the southeasterly edge of the ever-narrowing escape gap. Red Army tank columns north-west and south-west of Kharkov are tearing fresh gaps in the enemy defences which are protecting vital communication links with Kiev and the Dnieper. North-west of Kharkov the Russians have further improved their positions, but there is no indication of any resumption of direct attacks on the city from the north, north-east or c»»st. The Russians. on the Bryansk front, are pushing deeper into forests east of Bryansk. Red Army sappers are working night and day to- rebuild demolished bridges and roads before the weather further hampers progress.

Moscow radio says that Red Army units, advancing towards Bryansk, in die past month have progressed 125 miles'. (li-rmnn Losses Million Men

A Soviet communique states that the Russians in the Kharkov district, overcoming resistance and counter-attacks, continued the oll'ensivo and occupied several places. In the Bryansk direction and south-east of Smolensk, they fought to improve their positions. In the Done* 2 Basin they engaged in successful local lighting. Yesterday, the Russians on till sectors destroyed 129 tanks and 86 planes. A special communique stales: “During summer fighting, from July 5 to August 20, the Russians on all sectors of the front destroyed 4GOO planes, OIUi; tanks. ;:S0(l guns, and over 20,00!) muter vehicle,s. Tile enemy lost over .100,000 killed. "Taking into account that in the German army the number of wounded is from two to two and a-half times the number killed, it may be presumed that the number killed and wounded for the same period is net lest; than 1.000.000. During the same period the Russians captured 857 tanks, 1274 guns of various calibres, and 2429 macnine-gnns. Gormans taken prisoner mnnbeted 2a,C00." Moscow radio, quoting "Red Star,” states that tierce fighting continues northwest of Kharkov, where Soviet troops art' advancing and dealing the enemy heavy blows. "Red Star” says that the Germans. making use of water barriers, offered stiff resistance at Lobedin, and made every ell'ori to hold the town which, however. Soviet troops stormed, despite the fact that it was defended by considerable forces. London commentators point out that, Lobedin is an important town on the east bank of the Psel River and the terminus of a branch ilne of the Sumy-Kharkov railway. Its capture puts the even more important centre of Sumy in the tip of yet another salient. The capture of Sumy would open the way for a drive northwestwards along the railway to Konotop, the success of which would constitute a distant threat, to Kiev. An advance south-westwards on Poltava would put the Russians well astride a second railway leading to Kiev, as well as taking them within striking distance of the Dnieper. Russian ability to threaten a major offensive against two such important objectives would be likely to put a heavy strain on the Germans.