SMALL GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1943, Page 4

SMALL GAINS

SET AGAINST HEAVY LOSSES GERMAN ATTACKS ON DONETZ NOW SAID TO BE WEAKENING. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 21. A Soviet communique states: “Last night our troops continued fighting dn the same directions as before,” though a supplement admits heavy fighting east of Kharkov, where the Germans are constantly throwing in fresh forces along the fast thawing Donetz River. There is no confirmation from Russian sources of last night’s German claim to have captured Chuguyev. The town seems to be one of the most crucial points on the Donetz front and reports suggest that the battle has now reached a critical stage. The supplement itself says: “One Red Army unit has stemmed the attacks of large enemy tank and infantry forces. Fourteen enemy tanks were destroyed or damaged and one infantry battalion was wiped out in one sector. The enemy, at the price of high losses, succeeded in pushing back our troops somewhat. Soviet pilots successfully bombed enemy troops. During the day our planes destroyed or damaged ten tanks, and sixty lorries, carrying troops and supplies. Eight German planes were shot down. “On the central front the Russians continued offensive fighting and occupied several localities. The railway station of Vadino was occupied and much booty was captured, .after stubborn fighting. “South of Byeloi one Red Army unit repelled five enemy counter-attacks, and, having worn the enemy down, launched an attack and occupied six localities. “Red Army progress continues south of Lake Ilmen.” The Germans have abandoned their frontal attack in the northern Donetz as a conseqquence to their gt;eat losses during the last few days, writes a Moscow correspondent, Soviet forces parried the enemy’s new manoeuvre on the flanks, with artillery and anti-tank rifle fire, with the result that the Germans made only local gains, although they were attacking in waves consisting of 300 tanks and two battalions of infantry. On the central front the Germans made a bid for the air initiative, bringing up larger fighter forces, including Focke-Wulf 190 s. In 23 air battles, Soviet pilots downed seventeen FockeWulfs. The Luftwaffe has not succeeded in limiting the activities of the Soviet Stormovicks, which are effectively raiding enemy airports, troop concen- ( trations and mobile columns. CAPTURE OF CHUGUYEV CLAIMED BY THE NAZIS. LONDON, March 20. The German news agency claims that Chuguyev is firmly in German hands, and also that Sievsk and lomarovka’ south-west of Orel, have been taken by storm.