Daily Post - 19.02.1943, Page 1

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The Red Army Sweeps On
West Of Kharkov
Orel Threatened
London, February 18th
The latest messages from Moscow war correspondents report
that the Soviet armies are pressing westwards from Kharkov,
and at the same time tightening their grip on the Donetz Basin.
To-day’s Moscow communi-
que announces a Soviet ad-
vance, extending from the
Donbas to north of Kharkov.
The enemy is fighting despera-
tely to halt the Red Army’s ad-
vance, and is putting up a parti-
cularly fierce resistance in two
areas, south-west of Voroshilov-
grad, and still further west near
Kramatorskaya. The fall of
Slaviansk is also announced.
DRIVE ON POLTAVA
In spite of all the enemy’s
efforts, our Allies report furt-
her progress in both these
areas, and following the great
victory at Kharkov, Soviet
troops are to-day reported to
have advanced 35 miles west of
that vital industrial and com-
munication centre. The Rus-
sians have broadened the sali-
ent towards the Dniepr, and are
already directing a major drive
towards their next big objec-
tive, Poltava, which lies 90
miles south-west of Kharkov.
Forward Red Army elements
are now only 50 miles north-
east of this importánt strategic
centre.
NAZIS ADMIT LOSS OF
KHARKOV
The Germans have now at
last — after three days — ad-
mitted the loss of Kharkov. A-
mong the abandoned booty cap-
tured by our Allies in a railway
yard near the city, were 14
fully laden freight trains, 150
locomotives, many tanks and
other war material, as well as
great quantities of rolling stock.
OREL THREATHENED
Further north, the Russians
are in action between Kursk
and Orel, where the enemy
position is daily growing more
precarious. Moscow to-day
speaks of a big battle raging in
this area, for the possession of
an important highway, pre-
sumably, correspondents re-
port, the main Kursk-Orel-Mos-
cow highway. A blizzard has
been raging here for more than
a week, and the Nazis have
been forced to abandon much
equipment as their troops
flounder in the deep drifts in
search of by-roads.
RAILWAY STRATEGY
Commenting on the battle for
the railways of Russia, Paul
Winterton, B.B.C. correspon-
dent, makes the point that it is
not so much with the object
of denying them to the enemy,
which is automatically accom-
plished as our Allies cut the
various main lines of communi-
cation, as of clearing them en-
tirely for. Russian use before
the thaw comes to interfere
with road transport.
Winterton also in his dispatc-
hes mentions increasing guer-
illa activities. In one sector, he
says, several food dumps were
taken from the enemy by guer-
illa bands, who also destroyed
enemy war material and dis-
^ located his communications,
and this, he reports, is only. one
example of many.
NOVOROSSISK
From the southern end of the
battle-front, news indicates that
Hr. Stifflson Sajrs
"A Local Reverse”
London, Feb. 18th.
Mr. Stimson, the United
States Secretary of War, re-
vealed to-day that in the re-
cent Tunisian battles many j
American. tanks. had. been
destroyed by enemy dive- J
bombers, and that casualties .
had been heavy. Mr. Stimson
said that the withdrawal was
a serious local setback, the
importance of which must
not be minimised, but on the
other hand, he said, “it must
not be magnified out of pro-
portiori’.
The War Secretary also
gave these figures of Ameri-
can land forces’ losses: 3,500
killed; 6,500 wounded; 32,000
missing and prisoners. These
figures do not include the
latest action in Tunisia, and
therefore presumably cover
all American losses up to
that time.
Frank Gillard, B.B.C. repor-
ter in North Africa in his latest
dispatches says there is no news
the threat to Novorossiisk is
growing. Our Allies are mop-
ping up enemy units unable to
cross the Kerch Straits.
Mme. Chiang
Addresses
Congress
London, Feb. 18th.
Washington messages report
that Madame Chiang Kaishek,
who has been in the United
States for some time, addressed
a joint session of Congress to-
day, fervently urging all pos-
sible aid to China, to prevent
the recent threat of a Japanese
spokesman that China must be
erased from the map.
Madame Chiang Kaishek,
who, before her marriage, fin-
ished her education in the Uni-
ted States, is the second woman
not being a citizen of the coun-
try to address Congress, the
| first being Queen Wilhelmina
í of the Netherlands.
1 Back Io Moscow ..
Sir. Archibald Clark—Kerr,
British Ambassador to Moscow,
arrived back in the Russian
captitdl to-day, after an ab-
sence of several weeks in Bri-
tain.
that either of these places has
actually been occupied, but as
there are indications that the
enemy is already pulling out
of these forward positions to-
wards the main Mareth defence
line, their occupation is not
(Continued on page 4.)
Sth Army Faees The
Mareth Ltne
Germans Advance 40 Miles
London, February 18th.
The British Eightli Army has now reached the outpost
of the Mareth fortifications at Medenine, which means an advance
of 50 miles since its occupation of Ben Gardane two days ago.
To-day's communique reports our patrols to be active in the Foum
Tatahouine area, 30 rriiles due south of Medenine.