THREAT TO RZHEV

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 31 August 1942, Page 5

THREAT TO RZHEV

Russians Smash First Defence Line GERMAN LOSS AT LAKE LADOGA BASE '(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received August 30, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 29. The “Pravda” reports that- General Zhukov’s army in the last three days has recaptured 13 villages and smashed through the first line of defences around Rzhev. The Russians ( captured the aerodrome area of Rzhev, greatly hindering the assembly of German reserves and supplies. The Germans have converted every street in Rzhev into a minefield and have piled every crossing high with tank obstacles. The Russian guns continue to pound the network of pillboxes around the town. The "Izvestia” reveals that Russian marines and airmen dealt a severe blow to the large expeditionary force which the Germans in the last two months have been massing on Lake Ladoga for a new attempt to break Leningrad’s defences. Stormoviks caught the expeditionary fleet at its base with vessels filled with troops, tanks and munitions, sinking five troopships and six warships. An S.S. division had crept up across the boggy ground to launch a simultaneous land thrust, but the Russian marines fiercely attacked and wiped out much of the division. A Stockholm message states that a large number of German barges are concentrated in the Gulf of Finland for an assault on Leningrad.

It is officially announced in Helsinki that 60' planes last night bombed the city, causing fires and bomb damage.'

The Russian morning communique recorded the sinking of two enemy transports, totalling 12,000 tons, in the Barents Sea. Gigantic Russian Effort. LONDON, August 28. The Germans describe the Russian offensive at Rzhev as a gigantic effort. General Zhukov is reported to have brought up troops and masses of tanks from depots deep in Central Russia. General Leluishenko continues to grind the German defences in the suburbs of Rzlhev, storming the positions street by street and house by house. Fighting is raging in several areas around Rzhev.

Commenting on the Russian successes in the central .sector, "The Times” says that Generals Zhukov and Koniev have won a substantial victory which should have forestalled any possibility of an immediate resumption of the offensive against Moscow and may well be exploited to great effect in weeks to come. "The Times,” however, doubts that this success will have any immediate effect on Marshal Timoshenko’s armies, and adds: “The German capture of Stalingrad would undoubtedly be a great disaster, but this threat has been long foreseen, and much has 'been achieved to mitigate it, huge supplies of oil having been built up in other regions.” Even if the Germane succeed in capturing Baku itself, “The Times” says, the reserves already accumulated should suffice to maintain the Russian armies through the winter and far into next year’s campaign, when other forces of the United Nations may reasonably be expected to take their part. A German communique states that the Russian offensive south-west of Kaluga and near Rzhev has been smashed. It says that strong Russian forces south of Dake Ladoga attacked the German positions but were repulsed in fierce fighting.

Moscow radio states that the Russians on the central front repelled counter-attacks and occupied l eight fortified inhabited localities. The Germans' are reported to be moving up large forces of tanks and planes in the Rzhev sector. The Russians continue to advance on the Kalinin front. The Germans are killing inhabitants in villages they are forced to leave. A Stockholm. message reports that the Russians have begun a new counter-offensive near Schlusselburg. The Germans have only partly checked the attacks, which are continuing.