WEST OF SMOLENSK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 February 1942, Page 3

WEST OF SMOLENSK

y RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE THRUST ADVANCE THROUGH DEEP SNOW. SKI TROOPS ATTACK ENEMY REAR. LONDON, February 13. Tn their advance into White Russia the Russians have now reached a point 45 miles west of Smolensk. In their advance through deep snow the Russian troops are aided by ski troops attacking the enemy in rear. REPEATED ATTACKS IN LENINGRAD AREA. WEDGES DRIVEN INTO NAZI LINES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 12. Fighting in the Leningrad region has been intensified. The Russians, according to the German radio, brought up strong forces and launched 14 heavy attacks in the past two days along the line between Kolpino and Krasny. The Germans claim to have repulsed all attacks, but the Russians, despite reverses, are preparing new attacks. The Russians so far have not officially claimed that the ring round Leningrad is definitley broken, but the Germans admit that the Russians have driven several wedges into the besiegers’ lines. The relief of Leningrad, indeed, seems to have become a majoi’ prestige issue for both sides. A German spokesman said that the Russians apparently intend to make a supreme effort to drive the Germans from Leningrad, but the beleaguring chain will be held at all costfc. The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says that. the Germans obviously realise what a stimulating effect the raising of the siege of Leningrad would have on the Russians, and how it would depress the Axis, specially the Finns. The German Press reports that Russian pressure is heavy right down to Lake Ilmen. At the other end of the front, in the Crimea, a correspondent describes how marines of the Red Fleet successfully attacked enemy positions near Sebastopol. Advancing during the night they quickly overpowered enemy posts and then attacked a strongly-fortified hill which was taken, the 121st German infantry division being routed in the) course of the operation.