GERMANS HELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24535, 18 March 1943, Page 3

GERMANS HELD

battle continues POWERFUL FORCES ■DEFENCES OF ROSTOV jjEW THREAT DIRECTED o v Telpftraph —Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 17 Tho Red Army is still bitterly contesting the big German drive in south Russia, where the enemy is trying to smash a way across tho Poiietz River. .Russian forces coun-ter-attacked strongly on one sector and forced a German column of tanks and infantry to retreat after a sharp engagement. Moscow says the enemy suffered very heavy losses in this clash So far the Russians have smashed all tho German attempts to cross the river, but the enemy is still throwing powerful forces into the battle. Messages from Moscow say that the Russians havo considerably improved their positions. They still hold their bridgeheads at Tsyum and other points across the Donetz. The German attacks north-west of Kursk have not gained much ground.

The possible thre at to the whole Russian line in tho south right down to Rostov cannot bs lightly dismissed, eaya a correspondent. Already the Germans have begun to exert pressure in the direction of Rostov and their heavy artillery has been keoping up a pon-stop bombardment of the Russian positions on this front. Strong panzer and infantry forces, ■which are numerically superior to the Russian forces, are fiercely attacking between Isyum and Voroshilovgrad, gays another report The Russians so far have stemmed attempts to force passages of the Donetz River, but the bitter struggle continues in the Isyum area.

A German military spokesman said the Russians, employing reserves from Orel, were now counter-attacking the German spearheads west of Bielgorod, hut all attacks have been repelled. Router's correspondent says the fall of Kharkov has robbed the Russians of part of the fruits of their winter offensive. The real tragedy of the loss is that 250,000 inhabitants of Kharkov arc again tinder the German yoke and will be subjected to horrors which the Germans, for the purpose of salving their mortified pride, will inflict on the "unliappv people falling into their power. The Russian war correspondent Ilya 'Ehrenburg, writing in the Red Star, says: "Kharkov is a success for Hitler hut not a victory. The battle continues. Dozens of Hitler's best divisions are being destroyed. Dead men's ghosts cannot again carry o it an offensive against the Caucasus. What will happen when France ceases to bo a home for battered Germans from Russia and has become a battlefield ?" The Berlin rad o announced that tho Germans on the Kuban bridgehead to the Caucasus had shortened their front, following Russian attacks. Heavy fighting was proceeding. RUSSIAN REVERSE ' SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN (Special Correspondent) Weed. 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 17 A grave view is taken in London of the Russian reverse at Kharkov. Whereas a month ago there was reason to hope the Soviet could effect another Stalingrad, tho entire picture has altered. The view is expressed that while the early thaw had much to do with the situation, there also is evidence that Hitler's intuition has been pensioned off and that the most efficient German general staff has been unhampered in retrieving the position. It is regarded as too early yet to estimate how events will go, but it is recognised that Russia needs every bit of Allied aid sho can receive this summer, when a further big and bloody battle is expected. Although it is believed that Hitler is not so active in directing the campaign, well-informed circles in London Pay scant heed to rumours regarding his Health, ft is pointed out that previously lift "has had long, silent periods, which were broken when fresh moves were launched. If, indeed, th;i rumours are proved true, it will not nft'eot the German war aims in the slightest. Even il Hitler were dead the net result probably would he that he would be raised to sainthood a nci further capitalised. VISIT TO TURKEY LONDON, March 17 Air Chief Marshal Sir William Sho]to Douglas Air Officer Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force in the iliddle East , who* has been visting Fur*ey, was received yesterday by Presi; d'-nt Inonu. .Marshal Fevsi Cnkmak, Chief of the Turkish General Staff, was a lso present. Air Chief .Marshal Douglas in the Jnorning was received by the Prime Minister of Turkev. M. Saracoglu. He "ft Ankara last night to .return to Cairo, accompanied hv Sir Hughe Aliatclib ull- H u gessen, British Ambassa- % to Turkoy. who is going to Ralestino for a holiday,