APPARENTLY HELD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1943, Page 4

APPARENTLY HELD

AT LEAST FOR TIME GERMAN ONSLAUGHT IN RUSSIA WITH RED ARMY STILL DRIVING ON SMOLENSK. SIGNIFICANT ENEMY FAILURE. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 23. Violent fighting continues in most sectors of the 2,000 mile Russian front The Red Army, after the development of the dangerous German menace in the Middle Donetz, appears to have stemmed, at least for the time, German drives eastward, although the Germans claim they have halted for regrouping, and also because of bad weather. The Germans so far have been unable to bring to a standstill the Russian drive towards Smolensk. What may be a significant event was the failure of a large-scale German attempt to hold ud the Russian advance on Shisdra by an outflanking column thrusting towards Smolensk from the south-east. Moscow correspondents, describing a three-day battle, say that German tanks, at dawn on March 19, after a short barrage, attacked the Russians. The Red Army artillery, opening up with its customary deadly efficiency, drove back the enemy, who. almost immediately reattacked, continuing their thrusts throughout the day, despite exceptionally heavy losses. By night time, the German Eleventh Motorised jnfantry Regiment had almost ceased to exist. After their first repulse, the Germans again attacked on March 20 from a different direction, throwing in an infantry regiment and 48 tanks, supported by strong artillery, but were again defeated. The Germans brought up two more motorised divisions and many dive-bombers on March 21, under the impression that the Russians were tired out. Before the assault developed, the Russians attacked and routed the Germans. OPINION IN LONDON GREAT ISSUES AT STAKE. BEARING ON COMING ATTACK IN WEST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, March 23. With the thaw becoming general along the whole front from the Kuban area to Lake Ilmen, operations on the Russian front generally are slowing up, even on the bitterly contested Donetz line, though the Russians continue to report progress in the centre, notably southward of Byeloi. London observers are certain that the Russian successes of recent months have heavily strained the enemy resources in men and materials. This is a great gain, not only for the Russians, but also for the British and American armies preparing to attack in the west. How much this potential advantage can be realised depends on the issue of the great battle raging between Kursk and the Donetz Basin. The Germans hope to push on to dislocate the Soviet strategy before summer. The Russians, on the other hand, report that vast new reserves are being trained in the back areas, but that the High Command has no intention of using them until the proper time. The present struggle along the Donetz makes this a dangerous moment of great consequence for the United Nations, but it is already evident that the Soviet Command has handled an unexpected and difficult situation with great skill, and so far has withstood all German attempts to establish bridgeheads across the river. The magnitude of the issues at stake on the Russian front is directly related to the German manpower situation) According to trustworthy reports, German military and civil authorities are said to be fully agreed that the Eastern front must be drastically shortened to enable the Army to resist successfully on all fronts.