NEARING POLAND

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21655, 16 February 1942, Page 5

NEARING POLAND

PROGRESS OF RUSSIANS HEAVY LOSS INFLICTED MORE TERRITORY FREED (United Pre.s Assn.—Elec. Tel. Conyrlrdt) (Received Feb. 16, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15 Advanced Russian forces are 72 miles from the old Polish frontier in the Wilno district, says a despatch from the Moscow front. The Russians have captured five populated points around Mechovo, 30 miles to the southward. The Berlin radio reported that the Russians had breached German positions at Starayarussa, but the Germans brought up fresh reserves and, using numerous assault guns, recaptured Starayarussa. Though this morning’s Soviet wap communique maintains the reticence of the Soviet communiques during the past few weeks, merely stating that during the night the Russian forces continued offensive operating against the enemy, it is clear from a supplement to this communique that considerable losses continue to be inflicted on the Germans, in both men and material. Strong Point Smashed The supplementary communique says: “In one sector our men routed a fortified point, killed 340 enemy officers and men and captured 17 tanks, guns, 50 horses, and other weapons. In two days on several sectors of the Leningrad front the enemy lost in killed 1800 officers and men. Our troops captured booty including 27 guns, 26 automatics and one radio transmitter. * They destroyed during the same period |>wo tanks, 88 guns and 20 machine-guns. “In one sector of the south-west-ern front our troops liberated sree localities, wiping out 700 German officers and men. On another sector of the same front one unit repulsed enemy counter-attacks and captured three anti-tank guns, 10 trench mortars, 26 machine-guns, 20,000 Iftounds of ammunition and other weapons. Krasnograd Recaptured Smashing through powerful fortifications, the Russians recaptured Krasnograd, 70 miles south-west of Kharkov, the Daily Telegraph’s Stockholm correspondent says. This was achieved after the Russians had flung back a German counterattack. It is reported that Marshal Timoshenko personally directed the operations. Paratroops dropped deetf in Ger-man-held territory to organise guerilla hands which paved the way for the Red Army’s advance into White Russia, says the Daily Express’ Stockholm correspondent. The main force advanced south-west southwest to Toropa and crossed into White Russia at a point north-east-ward of Vitebsk. This means that the Russians have pushed on beyond Smolensk and represents a considerable advance westward of any point yet definitely announced as having been recaptured.

Hammering at Leningrad Although the Russians are unable to report important further progress toward relieving Leningrad, the hammering from within continues. The Germans had brought up further reinforcements from the Baltic and these reinforcements enabled the Germans to withstand the Russian efforts. Lately the Russians have been applying to the Leningrad region the tactics which have become a feature of the more southern operations, consisting largely of infiltration into the enemy’s rear, where harassing activities, including the destruction of communications, synchronised with increased frontal pressure. Sometimes large groups of cavalry manage to slip through the enemy’s positions and range over large areas. Unofficial reports by neutral correspondents state that the Russians are making a great new thrust toward Poland. A Swedish newspaper reports that the Russians are advancing rapidly in this direction, but the latest Soviet communique does not confirm these reports. Aerodrome Attacked The Moscow radio says Russian dive-bombers attacked a German aerodrome on the Karelian front and four Messerschmitts and one Junkers, also five barracks. Guerillas operating near Ostrachkov killed nearly 600 and blew up five railway bridges. The Russians driving west between Moscow and Leningrad stormed fortified positions which the Germans had built preparatory to making a stand until the spring. Heavier Russian forces are following in the wake of the cavalry which broke through the German defences on the Leningrad front, but the magnitude of the action is not yet known. The Russian vanguard in eight days* operations in the rear of the enemy killed 600 and. captured a railway station. News of Russian progress on the southern front was given over the German radio today. The commentator spoke of the Russians’ great offensive activity in the southern sector and blamed the weather for holding up German operations. The sinking of a large enemy transport recently makes the seventh victim claimed by one Soviet submarine operating in northern enemy waters.

The title Hero of the Soviet Union has been posthumously awarded to the Red Army soldier Smolyachko, who was the instructor of a band of snipers. He started with 10 pupils, until the group grew to a total of 300 crack shots. These accounted for 2000 Germans in three months. Their leader died in action, but his school is continuing to train snipers. President Kalinin has decreed the mobilisation for war production and building work of men between the ages of 16 and 55, and women between 16 and 45, who are not already in the services or engaged in war work. The decree affects only urban populations. Quoting a report from Geneva, Moscow radio says German officers who fled from Germany declare that almost every German hospital for wounded has a gas chamber in which soldiers who lost eyes and limba are put to death.