RUSSIANS GAIN SOME GROUND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 67, 22 March 1943, Page 5

RUSSIANS GAIN SOME GROUND

NAZIS CLAIM DONETZ ADVANCE Recd. 9 p.m. Rugby, March 20. The news from Russia deals largely with the Red Army’s continued attacks in the Staraya Russa area and south of Viazma, and the German counter-attacks on the Donetz front. Further progress by Marshal Timoshenko’s forces south of Lake Ilmen led to the isolation of Kholm, an important German base about half-way between Staraya Russa and Velikiye Luki. Advances south of Izdeshkovo have brought the Russians to a point a few miles north of Dorogobuzh, another enemy base about 50 miles east of Smolensk. The German attacks on the Donetz front, which form part of the new Battle of Kharkov, consist of two main thrusts.

In one, to the north of the city, the enemy claim of the capture of Byelgorod by a tl surprise” push by S.S. units is not confirmed.

In time it may well prove that the Germans are attempting to recapture Kursk as well as Kharkov. Byelgorod is on the railway to Kursk. This fighting in the northern Donetz is described by Moscow as a combination of positional warfare and a war of manoeuvre, the cause being the river, which divides the main opposing forces. The river is 200 to 300 yards wide and still has thick layers of ice. but already it is said the ice is covered with a few inches of water, and a continuance of mild weather might make the river impassable. The early thaw, which is handicapped the Red Army’s magnificently bold offensive, yet react against the enemy in turn. In a thrust south-east of Kharkov much depends upon the important bridgehead of Chuguyev, still held by the Russians in face of repeated strong attacks by tanks and infantry.—B.O.W. Recd. 8.45 p.m. London, March 21. The Russians advanced six miles west of Izdeshkovo, along the Viazma-Sniolensk railway, and reached the upper Dnieper, Yhe whole of the upper Dnieper is nowin Russian hands. One column which reached the river north of Izdeshkovo is only seven miles from Lforogobuj. The German news agency claims that Chuguyev is firmly in German hands, and also that Syevsk and Tomarovka were taken by storm. Red Army engineers have invented portable roads for the boggy ground during the spring fighting. The “roads” consist of 12ft. lengths of heavy planking attached to wide strips which can be loaded on lorries. The lengths, laid endwise and nailed together, make an all-weather surface which does not embed in the mud. Some run for miles across the steppes.