REALITIES DEFINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1943, Page 4

REALITIES DEFINED

AS AGAINST GERMAN CLAIMS POSITION IN THE KHARKOV AREA. ENEMY SOUTHERN FRONT MUCH WEAKENED. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Recelived This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. “The Times’’ Stockholm correspondent, after reporting the German claim regarding an evacuation of Kharkov and the shortened defensive line, continues: “The shortening cf the line is undeniable, but that the evacuation has improved the general defensive position is less cbvicus. The front has suddenly sprung forward across the Kalkimerefa area, and now merges with the Isyum sector. The Germans are now fighting for the tenure of the Donetz basin, without which the occupation of the Kuban bridgehead and the Crimea cannot be maintained. “The position resembles that of last March, but the Germans were then ready to launch a mighty counteroffensive, whereas now the German counter-offensive is already spent and prospects for the continuance of the Russian battle for liberation of the Ukraine are much more favourable.”” The London “Times,” in a leading article, says: “Just as Britain demolished, once for all, the myth of the irresistible Luftwaffe, the Russians have shattered the myth of the invincible German Army. It would be difficult to over-estimate the obligation under which the Russians have laid the friends of freedom throughout the world.” The Berlin radio stated that Kharkov is a heap of rubble and ashes. “A description of Kharkov’s last hours included the recording of the voice of a German general, commanding the destruction of everything valuable to the Russians. The Berlin radio admitted that the Russians, attacking west of Kuibyshev, have breached the German lines. FIERCE TANK BATTLE ON WIDE UKRAINIAN PLAINS. ENEMY RESISTANCE STIFF BUT UNAVAILING. (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. Following on the capture of Kharkov, the Russians are sweeping on westward, where they are rapidly forging ahead. Despatches from Moscow state that fighting continues with unabated fury. The Moscow radio says the Germans are throwing in fresh contingents, but their resistance, though stiff, is unavailing. One of the fiercest tank battles of the war is being fought on the wide Ukrainian plains west of Kharkov. Russian heavy tanks, in head-on thrusts, and Russian artillery, are attacking the German armoured units at point-blank range on the Psiol River, which is a tributary of the Dnieper, and the only large water barrier between Kharkov and Kiev. The Russians south of Sumy have already crossed the Psiol River. Kiev is at the apex of a triangle formed by railways to Kursk and Kharkov. Poltava, already threatened by the Russians, is the only hedgehog town in the triangle. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the latest reports from the Smolensk and Bryansk fronts indicate that Soviet pressure has slackened, but south of Kharkov fighting in the areas of Isyum and Voroshilovgrad, which are keypoints for the recapture of the rich Donetz industrial basin, have been growing in intensity. The Germans south-west of Voroshilovgrad are fighting under strict orders to hold on at all costs, but they have been forced to yield ground in local battles. “The Pravda” says a German regiment sent into the battle south-west of Voroshilovgrad, fouj hours after its arrival lost half its personnel within a few hours. One German prisoner said the Germans were forced to remain in their positions under threat of being shot.

Tonight’s Soviet communique states . that the Russians south of Isyum and south-west of Voroshilovgrad, continued successfully to develop their offensive, and that south-west of Voroshilovgrad they had advanced in three days’ fighting, from 20 to 23 miles.