GROWING THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 3

GROWING THREAT

DRIVE TO SMOLENSK RED ARMY'S ADVANCE OVER 100 POINTS TAKEN (Rocd. 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 20 The Russians are keeping up the momentum of their offensive on the central froht and are already on the fringes of the Smolensk defence zone to the north-east. The Russian push has not been spectacular. All the conditions are against speed. The German defence positions are strong, the troops holding them have been reinforced, and they are fighting very stubbornly. Wet and mud slow up transport and hinder mobility. At one place the Russians advanced through boggy, wooded country—hut they still advanced. By a new advance Soviet columns have sharply increased the threat to Smolensk. Since mid-day yesterday Moscow announces the capture of more than 100 strong points and settlements in the drive toward the city. All despatches from the front line confirm

thai, me light my is oxiremoU violent and Iliat it will become increasingly so as the Russians begin io move against tlie city's outlying do fen cos. Soviet columns which yesterday were lighting to the north of Yarlsevo have driven still further south during the night. The Russians moving westward along the main railway I'roni Yiazma have hacked their way further forward, in strong enemy opposition. Tliev are reported this morning to have reached the outskirts of Dorogobuzh. Seven Times Driven Back Repented German counter-attacks tailed to halt the Russian advance north of Dukiiovstcliina, according to frontlino despatches quoted by the Moscow radio. The Germans seven times counter-attacked one Russian unit, but were driven back. Hie Germans finally began a retreat southward, leaving hundreds of dead on the battlefield. .Much of the fighting on this front is going on in a forest, whore only small forces can operate. Picked Red Army soldiers frequently infiltrate through the German lines, surprising them from the rear. One strongly-fortified point was surrounded before it was stormed simultaneously from four sides. All roads along the Germans' line of retreat are thickly mined. Russians advancing along the west bank of the upper Dnieper repulsed a fierce counter-attack and knocked out 23 Germans tanks. Russian columns coming down from the north-east have cleared up more enemy positions above Dukhovstchina. ttO miles from Smolensk. Break-through Achieved The l/ondon News Chronicle's correspondent in Moscow considers the Russians have achieved a break-through on this front. Ho says the Germans are counter-attacking very strongly indeed, but the Russians are overcoming both the weather and enemy resistance, and in recent fighting they have captured a defence line of tactical importance. The Russian advance from the east has been tat her slower, but no less steady. Columns moving across the Upper Dnieper and along the main Smolensk highway have taken more positions. They are extending their hold west of the river and have captured a town little more than 20 miles from Yartsevo. German resistance has been overcome 111 several localities on the central front and these places have been occupied, says a Soviet communique. One Russian formation crossed a. river and occupied fortified positions. Safonovo, four kilometres north of Dorogobuzh, was occupied, the enemy suffering heavy losses in men and material. North of Dukhovstchina the Russians continued the offensive and occupied seven localities. Fourteen German guns, five tanks and other booty were captured. GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL CHUGUIEV BRIDGEHEAD LONDON, March 25 On the upper Donetz the Germans have been keeping up their probing attacks here and there, although the fighting is still not on an important scale. The enemy attempted a breakthrough in the Bielgorod area, using a battalion of infantry and some tanks, but they were held and then ejected by a Russian counter-attack. Near Chuguiev the Russian bridgehead held firm against an attempt to liquidate it and clear a way to the river. North of Chuguiev there was fighting with enemy tanks and infantry, says a Soviet communique. One enemy attack cost them nine tanks. 4,000,000 GERMAN DEAD LONDON, March 24 The Soviet Information Bureau states that, during 20 months of war the Germans on the Soviet front have lost, iu men killed on the battlefield, not fewer than 4.000.000. SHIPPING INQUIRY WASHINGTON, March 21 A Congressional committee is investigating the excessive profits of American shipping lines which are chartering vessels to Britain in order to carry lendlease goods to the Roil Sea. The committee's counsel said that 8!) vessels making !)() trips in 1911 collected •'11,000,000 dollars, the charter of which .showed a 27,000,000-dollar profit, lie added that the profit from a single trip exceeded the iotal value of the vessel.