RUSSIANS MASSING

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 248, 21 October 1942, Page 5

RUSSIANS MASSING

OFFENSIVE IN RJEV AREA.

P.A. Gable.

LONDON, Oct. 20.

Russian forces are reported to be massing in the area forming a rough triangle between Rjev, Vitebsk, and Lake Ilmen, states the Stockholm correspondent of The Times. Berlin interprets the Russian movements as indicating a resumption of the offensive which has paused before Rjev. The correspondent says that the ground generally is soft and it is questionable whether a large-, scale offensive is possible before the frosts, although the Russians have better railway ap - proaches than in any other area. Russian troops in the Vitebsk region have been filtering through the German lines ever since spring to reinforce guerillas in the forests and swamps. Russian planes drop ammunition and food and land at forest aerodromes and take off wounded. Guerillas are now very busy wrecking trains, attacking communications and ambushing German punitive expeditions. The Red October metal works in Stalingrad are still holding out, reports Berlin radio. This vast plant covers several square miles. One of the greatest difficulties is the way the Russians camouflage their positions. Bad weather is preventing dive-bombers giving close support to the ground forces. v