DETAILED PLANNING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 208, 3 September 1943, Page 5

DETAILED PLANNING

RUSSIAN BREAK-THROUGH

Reed. 12.25 a.m. London, Sept. 2. The Russians driving down the railway from Yelnia are now less than 40 miles from Smolensk, says Reuter’s correspondent. The Germans are putting up a stiff resistance from a network of hedgehog fortifications delending the city. Izvestia, describing how the latest Russian drive burst through the German Donbas line, says reconnaissance planes photographed the defence system, which was studied in detail. Russian tanks struck at the point chosen for the break-through. Motorised infantry followed, and then cavalry poured into the breach. The German defences were tackled from the flank and from the rear. Soon the whole system became dislocated. Fighting was bitter but was split into several independent engagements, the enemy command having early in the operation lost grip of the situation. Krasnyluch tell when two Russian columns, after sharp fighting, outflanked and threatened to encircle the town. Berlin radio says the Russians are planning large-scale landings the Kuban area. This was discovered following the capture of a reconnaissance officer who came ashore near Novorissisk.