The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-16
Hitler's 1912 offensive plans by an
about drive as spring arrives.
Batter Naxis IN Pieces

u1IAeE AS4z offensive plans by an
about drive as spring arrives.
Batter Nazls to Pieces
At the bomb-battered industrial
center Of Kharkov on the southern
front and at the wrecked city of
Staraya- Russa on the north, the
Soviet armies reported that they
were grinding the enemy to pieces
and were nearing two of the most
important triumphS Of the winter
offensive.
The early liberation Of Kharkov
and the capture of Staraya Fussa,
where from 100000 to more than
zoe, 900 Germans had been reported
trapped, appeared likely on the
basis Of reports from Moscow and
II those reports are borne out the
Axis will lose two of the vital bases
that Hitler had ordered held at any
cost as springboards for q 1912
drive toward the Caucasus.
The Nazi Suehrer Acknowledged
to a certain extent the dangers that
his armies face. In a speech Sunday
IN Berlin, he postponed until sum-
mer the victory which he had prom
1sed over the Russians as soon as
spring released his mechanical
hordes from the grip of Russia's ice
and snow.
He repeated that in the summer
when the vast nat lands OF the
Ukraine are dusty, there would be
an overwhelming victory on the
eastern front, but at almost the
same hour Moscow was giving a
grim picture Of the German posi-
tions at key points in both the
north and south.
At Kharkov, the Soviet Dispatch
es said, the Germans have inflicted
terrible suffering on the Russian
people, killing some $4,000 and
throwing other thousands into cells
pending execution. Hunger and
death and desolation are in the
streets Of the wrecked capital OF
the Ukraine-but Russian guerrillas
are there, too, and are striking at
the enemy inside the city.
Between Kharkov and the rail.
road center Of Orel, to the north.
the Red armies were reported to
have broken through enemy lines
in many places and the Germans
have suffered heavy losses in their
efforts to hold their main bases
during the winter.
That does not mean that the
Russians are certain to gain out
standing or decisive victories this
spring, but their offensive during
the bitter winter months already
has been Of tremendous Importance
In disrupting Hitler'S plans and in
bolstering the Soviet position in
preparation for the day when the
enemy can again muster reserve
power and attack in favorable wea-
Their.
In the north, the Russians said
that an important enemy defense
sector had been taken on the STAR |
ava Russo front by a Red army unit |
that the Germans had claimed was
wiped out" some time ago. Ger
mans were reported Surrendering |
because Of cold and hunger south |
OF Lake linen and on the Lenin-
grad front another 1900 were killed |
in the last two days.
Other United Nations forces were |
busy on the European front over
the weekend and there was an air
alarm In London this morning, due
apparently to two German planes
that flew high over the Thames es-
tuary. The apparent reconnais-
sance activities Of the Nad craft in
dictated that bombing raids might
be resumed In force for the first
time since last May 10.
In the European coastal waters.
British air and naval forces engaged
the Germans over the weekend. The
London admiralty reported that two
German E-boats Cast torpedo mo-
tor boats had been knocked out.
and four others damaged without
loss to the British. The Berlin
radio reported that one British de-
stroyer and four torpedo boats had
been hit.
In the Mediterranean, It was re-
ported by radio Rome that the Brit
ish had bombed Rodi, in the Dodec-
aneSe islands, of the Turkish coast.
This is one path of possible Axis Of
fensiye into the Near East this
spring. The Italians reported four
British planes downed by their
fighters and three by Germans In
battles in the Mediterranean area.
Dispatches from Cairo said that
British pilots flying American-built
planes had caused heavy damage In
raids On Axis air bases In Ldhya and
that American Kittyhawk fighters
had driven on enemy fighter craft,
shooting down from three to seven.
In the FaF East. the allied naki0ne