UNDER TERRIFIC GERMAN ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1943, Page 3

UNDER TERRIFIC GERMAN ATTACKS

Russian Defenders of Kharkov CONTINUED SOVIET PROGRESS WEST OF VIAZMA COLUMNS PUSHING ALONG SMOLENSK HIGHWAY LONDON, March 14. The Russian defenders of Kharkov, now hard pressed on three slides, have stood up to another day of terrific hammering by German tanks and infantry. Moscow says the battle has become more furious during the past 24 hours. The indications are of slight German progress towards the heart of the city, though there is nothing to suggest that the Russian defences have been seriously broken at any point. While the main German pressure is still from the west, Berlin says the bitterest fighting is going on south-east of the city, where it seems the Russians have smashed up every German effort to push forward. To the north of the city the Germans are making strong efforts to outflank the city’s defences by a powerful drive towards Bielgorod, on the main Kharkov to Kursk railway. The Germans say they have reached a place 25 miles from Bielgorod. In the south the Germans are said to be using a force of 3,000 tanks, many of heavy type, on a front of 200 miles. On the central front the Russians are- hacking their way through densely wooded country west of Viazma. They are moving forward on a broad front and have captured several more places on the railway running to Briansk. One place is nearly 60 miles south of Viazma. Other Soviet columns are pushing along the famous Smolensk highway. The Germans have damaged the road in their retreat.