FULL WEIGHT AGAINST SMOLENSK

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 21982, 10 March 1943, Page 3

FULL WEIGHT AGAINST SMOLENSK

THREAT TO VIAZMA GROWS HOURLY

GERMANS’ INCONSISTENT CLAIMS—DONETZ POSITION

LONDON, March 9 The fate of V iazma appears to lie sealed and the battle for Smolensk, which is said to be Hitler's headquarters, is shout to begin, according to the latest Russian warpript news. Reuter s correspondent at Stockholm says the battle for Smolensk may prove to be the greatest yet fought in Russia. Reports from Berlin state that Marshal Timoshenko is developing a direct attack against Smolensk and the heaviest fighting must be expected for this great fortress. The German-controlled News Agency at Stockholm declares that it is uncertain whether the Germans are resisting at \ iazma. Other Stockholm reports say that the Russians have such overwhelming forces that the Germans must retreat to avoid complete annihilation. According to Reuter’s Moscow correspondent the Germans are attempting to pull out the garrison from the \ iazma "hedgehog before the Red Army cuts the last escape railway to Smolensk, which may be achieved sooner than is generally supposed. The full weight of the Russian offensive is still being concentrated on the salient based on Smolensk. The threat to Viazma is growing hourly. Moscow messages say that the offensive has not vet been fully developed. The Russians are striking out on five sectors and keeping the Germans guessing. Farther south, in the Donetz Basin, the war has slowed down from one of movement to one of position. The Germans in a broadcast claimed to he masters of the situation on the whole Russian front, but in the next sentence the announcer said that in some places they are defending their positions and in others are trying to disengage and retreat to a shorter line.