STRIKING HARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1942, Page 2

STRIKING HARD

AND DEVELOPING THREAT TO SMOLENSK RUSSIANS PRESSING ON. VIOLENT ATTACK MADE ALSO IN DONETZ BASIN. LONDON, January 25. The Russians are deepening the wedge they have driven into the German defences between Leningrad and Smolensk. They are striking at the Leningrad-Ukraine railway line, which is described as the spinal cord' of the whole German line—the principal lateral line of communication behind the enemy front. The Russians are pushing on from west of Mojaisk towards Smolensk. The Germans admit violent Russian assaults in the Donetz region. GREAT ADVANCE IMPORTANT STRATEGIC 1 - GAINS. GERMANS IN DIFFICULT POSITION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 24. The rapid advance north of Smolensk, which has brought the Russians to within 40 miles of the important railway junction of Velikiye Luki (150 miles west of Rzhev on a line south from Leningrad) is expected in military quarters in London to have great repercussions on the rest of the central front in a few days. The Soviet High Command, in announcing yesterday the great advance of 62 miles between Smolensk and Novgorod to a point 110 miles from the Latvian border, stated: “Our troops broke through the fortified German fortified lines and advanced over 100 kilometres. The railway from Rzhev to Velikin has been cleared of enemy troops and is now completely in our hands. More than 2000 prisoners were freed from the Germans.” The Germans in the Rzhev area are now in a very difficult position' with the railway cut behind them. The new thrust, which is on a broad front of nearly 100 miles, therefore seriously threatens —this time from the north—the flank of the large German forces withdrawing in the general Smolensk, Vyazma and Rhzev region.