BID FOR KHARKOV

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24531, 13 March 1943, Page 7

BID FOR KHARKOV

ISSUE IN BALANCE FIGHTING ON OUTSKIRTS REPEATED PANZER THRUSTS (Reed. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON. March 12 -Phe fate of Kharkov still hangs in the balance. The Germans are employing over 500 tanks in support of the many infantry divisions. The Russians admit that a strong attack on the west of the city had driven the Soviet troops back and fighting was now taking place on the outskirts. The Germans claim that they have a firm grip on the suburbs and the result of the battle turns nil a matter of hours. The Paris radio claims that Russian resistance round Kharkov has been broken and that the Germans are now firmly established on all lines of communications on the city's outskirts. The Germans are losing between .'SO and 40 tanks daily. They are repeating their tactics before Stalingrad, namely, a rotation of assaults, which is a costly process for them, but equally imposes a continual maximum burden upon the defenders.

Official reports confirm that the Gorman? have succeeded in massing considerable local superiority in infantry and tanks. They are throwing in one panzer spearhead after another in an attempt to cross the Donetz River. Russian dive-bombers and guns no sooner smash one pontoon bridge than the Germans htiild another. Similarly, when one group of German tanks is turned back by anti-tank lire another rolls into battle. Tense Situation It. is thought in Moscow, says Renter's correspondent, that Kharkov may become another Stalingrad. It is pointed ont that it was south of Stalingrad that the Germans launched a desperate counter-attack to relievo Paulus' trapped forces. Similarly the Germans have switched their main fresh forces south of Kharkov. Soviet resistance thus far has proved tough, but the situation is tense. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that, having failed to encircle the Russian forces, the Germans are now regrouping south-west of Kharkov and attacking Russian positions with unabated violence. They are probing for weak spots for a drive to Kharkov. Furious fighting is raging everywhere. The Red Star says the Germans are trying to penetrate into Kharkov by powerful thrusts with panzer "fists." The Russians have thrown back all attacks and inflicted huge losses. A German communique states: "Our assault divisions in the Kharkov area drove the enemy back toward the town proper. Fighting is going on on the northern and western borders of the town." Conflicting Reports The Berlin radio claimed that Russian resistance 011 important roads and railways in the outer Kharkov area had been overcome. The commentator, Captain Serfcorious, said the city was closely enveloped from the south , and west, while strong forces were thrusting from the north. The Times Stockholm correspondent, however, reports that the Russians have repelled all German efforts to get closer to the city. The Germans have nowhere managed to establish a footing on the left bank of the Donetz. The Russians south and south-west of Kharkov are facing the greater part of the powerful German army group, including the newly-formed Storm Troop Corps of lOfX) tanks, which earlier failed to cross the northern Donetz and was then switched to the Kharkov area. SECOND FRONT ISSUE NOW THE TIME TO STRIKE (Brrd. 5.:'55 p.m.) LONDON, March :l"l Some observers in London are again emphasising that now is the time for the Allies to strike in Western Europe. They point out that Germany has withdrawn her major forces from Europe to achieve her successes in the Donetz Basin. The Daily Kxpress says that Hitler has made a gamble of weakening his European forces in his desperate effort to stop the Nazi rot in Southern Russia. Russia must show speed if she is to recover and consolidate her gains before the Germans can think of a spring offensive. The Allies of Russia, however, the newspaper adds, must show even greater speed. The plans of the Casablanca Conference were laid for nine fighting months; two of those months have already passed. STANDLEY INCIDENT PUBLICATION IN RUSSIA (Reed. G. 35 p.m.) LONDON, March 11 The Russians learned to-day for the (irst time about the statement made by the United States Ambassador to Moscow, Admiral W. H. Standley. Renter's correspondent in Moscow reports that all Russian papers published accounts of the reactions of Britain and America to the incident. Admiral Standley declined to make further comment. It can be said, however, says the correspondent, that the statement was made with constructive intent. Admiral Standley's point of view was that the more the Russian public knew about the Allied war effort in_ all its phases, the more easily would friendly relations be built np between the Allies. This would lay the foundation for fruitful post-war "collaboration between Russia and the Western Democracies. CROSS-CHANNEL DUEL LONDON. March 12 Big guns this morning opened up over the Straits of Dover. The exchanges of fire lasted for over an hour and a-quarter.