NEW ASSAULT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 3

NEW ASSAULT

NAZIS ATJ3RIANSK BATTLE RAGES RUSSIANS HOMING DRIVE ON SMOLENSK (Heed. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON. March 22 The Germans have launched another big attack on a sector 40 miles north, of Briansk, on the Russian central front. This drive began four days ago when the enemy smashed at the Russian positions with lax-ge infantry, tank and air forces. On the first day of the attack the Red Army routed a German motorised infantry regiment. By the end of the second day they had killed at least 2000 of the enemy and knocked out several dozen tanks. The battle is still going on, but tho Russians are holding firmly to their positions and wearing down the enemy. Farther north the Russians have captured Dnrovo, the railway junction on the main railway from Viazma to Smolensk. It is the junction of an important branch line running northward and is about 60 miles east of Smolensk.

The . Russians are maintaining their pressure south of, Bieloi and steadily pressing on toward Smolensk in the face of stiffening resistance. German sources refer to an "armoured avalanche" rolling toward Smolensk. Soviet troops now are fighting on a broad front on tho western sido of the Upper Dnieper and are increasingly threatening Durovo. The left arm of the Russian pincers aimed at Smolensk now is approaching Yelnia. Guerilla fighters are helping the Russians in their drive on Smolensk by ambushing Germans in the forest and harassing the enemy's supply lines. A Soviet communique says the Russians occupied the railway station of Vadino after stubborn fighting. South of Bieloi one Red Army unit occupied six localities. General Koniev's troops are facing great difficulties on the Upper Dnieper, where a premature spring, thaw and sunshine have made tho river crossings most dangerous. Tho Germans are doing their utmost to delay the Russian advance, and are throwing in strong air forces. They made a bid to wrest the initiative in the air by bringing up larger fighter forces, including Focke Wulf 190's. The Luftwaffe lias not succeeded in limiting the activities of the Soviet Stormoviks, which are effectively raiding enemy airports, troop concentrations and mobile columns. On the Lake 1 linen front also tho i early thaw has begun seriously to hamper operations, but Marshal Tiinoshenko's troops are pushing ahead in the teetli of stubborn opposition. Longrange artillery is preparing tho way. for new infantry advances north and south of the lake. Fightilig in marshlands, where villages are perched on hilltops, the Russians each night have seen huge fires as the Germans have set fire to houses and stores before retreating.

KING VISITS THE NAVY

FOUR DAYS IN FLAGSHIP (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 21 The King in the last four days has lived aboard the flagship King George V, in northern waters. He visited large and small units of the Home Fleet. The King first inspected the King George V.'s company, including men from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and South Africa. He saw the 35,000ton battleships Duke of York and Howe and visited such battle-scarred veterans as the destroyer Scylla, famous for its part in' a convoy battle in the Arctic last September, also the cruiser Cumberland, which holds a record of 250,000 miles sailed during this war. His Majesty boarded an aircraftcarrier and saw for the first time the new Seafire planes. He visited altogether .10 ships and entertained their officers in the flagship in the evenings.