BATTLE MOVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 3

BATTLE MOVES

DONETZ EIYEE FEONT CHUGUIEV TO BIELGOROD LONDON, March 23 Battered by the Russian defenders along the Middle Donetz, the Germans now seem to have switched their main attack north to the upper reaches of the river, near Bielgorod, where it 'is narrow. This shifting of the battle is indicated in the official news from Moscow. Tho overnight communique did not mention Chuguicv. To-day's communique speaks mainly of artillery duels there. In both communiques, however, tho name of Bielgorod figures prominently as the sceno of heavy fighting between tanks and infantry. Bielgorod, already in German hands, lies close to the west bank of the Don eta. Tho German aim may be to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank before the thaw sets in. It seems clear that tho present German attacks hero are as violent as those which the Russians met further south. So far, however, there is nothing to suggest that the Germans have been able to breach the main Russian positions. The Russians on the Donetz are still holding out after 10 days of heavy fighting and tho battle seems to have

slackened a little, said an earlier report. At one place in the Bielgorod sector the Germans tried to force their way across a river, possibly the Donetz, but the attempts failed. The British United Press correspondent in Moscow says the position of the Russians in the Ukraine has deteriorated considerably with the loss of Bielgorod, and Kursk is now seriously endangered. The Germans have crossed the Donetz at several places in the Isyum area. Although the Russian conquests south of Kursk are imperilled by the German thrusts in the Middle Donetz, where the situation in some sectors is regarded as critical, despatches from Moscow indicate a slackening of the German thrusts. Correspondents attribute this to the stiffening Russian resistance, also to the fact that von Manstein is feeling the strain of his losses. The fact that the Germans are now using small tank groups for infiltration, instead of massive columns, may also be due to attrition. Berlin radio commentators emphasise the quietude of the southern wing, which the German news agency ascribes to the need for regrouping after forced marches across bad roads following the thaw. The news agency says the German operations have been in progress for five weeks. Local halts are essential during such a large-scale offensive. The German High Command's radio spokesman, CJeneral Dietmar, said the winter battle could he regarded as over, because thaw and mud presently would cause a pause in the fighting. The German counter-attack reached its peak with the recapture of Kharkov, and this had rectified the most dangerous Russian penetration of the Germans' new defensive ground. He admitted that the high German losses would have an influence on future campaigns and remain a burden on German resources.

ITALIANS WEARY SHORTAGES OF FOOD (Rrcd. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, Mnrch 22 The British prisoners released at Mersin, Turkey, in exchange for Italians and Germans are unanimous that the Italian people are short of food and war weary. However, considering the shortages and other difficulties, they tried to treat the prisoners well. The Daily Mail correspondent at Mersiti, reporting this, added that the [irisoners said the black spot was the transit camj) at Bari, where 2000 men were half-starved and huddled four in a bed. The sick were dying for want of attention and equipment. Swiss Hod Cross delegates were investigating conditions. After the bombing of the British ship Talma while it was en route from Port Said to Mersin, the Italian officer prisoners apologised through an interpreter to the ship's captain, on behalf of the airmen responsible. The captain accepted the apology.