FOUGHT BY THE RUSSIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1943, Page 3

FOUGHT BY THE RUSSIANS

East and South-East of Kharkov ENEMY ATTEMPTS TO CROSS DONETZ SMASHED FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL SOVIET PROGRESS TOWARDS SMOLENSK LONDON, Marell 16. After their withdrawal from Kharkov, Stalin’s armies are now fighting determined delaying actions to prevent the Germans from advancing further eastward. The enemy pressure is powerful and sustained right along the front extending from north of Kharkov along the line of the Donetz River to Isyum. Some of the fiercest fighting is in progress south-east of the ' Kharkov area. The Germans have already attempted to cross the Donetz. The attempt was smashed. They also made another attempt to get across the river near Isyum, but this, too, was frustrated. A correspondent states that the present enemy tactics seem to be aimed at a big encirling movement, with the crossing of the river as the immediate objective, in an attempt to cut off ' the Russian troops which defended Kharkov. On the central front the Russians have made considerable new progress in their two-pronged drive towards Smolensk. The attack is, proceeding on a curving front 100 miles long. After reaching a point'less than 60 miles north-east of Smolensk, the Russians today have pushed on another eight miles.