The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-08-31
AMERICAN TANKS.
 TRUCKS GIVE AID
Continued from Page D

(COnClnUed rom Page 1) this sector, I learned, extended abou 40 miles, running from a point soutF of Rzhev, southwest to point east of Gzhatsk. The initial line which the Russians broke through wa based on Pogoreloye -Gorodische anC ran about 10 miles along the west bank of the narrow Derzha river.
 The German positions were three or four miles deep. The first line was atop a ridge which skirted ta( bending river and a narrow vaYsey separated the Germans from the Russians who had positions in the forests on the east bank of the stream.
 The formation of the river ridge gave the Germans natural flankine fields of fire and with wooden pill bo ies and machine guns they de- fe lded all the approaches and dug themselves in after last winters re- treat.
 The Nazis had three rows of bar bed wire and about four pillboxes per half mile.
 There were no concrete fortifica- tions but an abundance of artillery and trench mortars.
 The line was held by the reformed 16lst Nazi Infantry Division and the 36th motorized division as of March 3lst. By the end of April the l6lst had 5000 men of whom 4.000 were holding g front of about eight miles. The Germans then reinforce cd their position with four artillery battalions of 48 guns and 90 trench mortars.
 The 36th motorized division had approximately the same complement of men and material, Red army of- ficers reported.
 The principal position of the 16lst Division was commanded by Major General Rekke.
 During May and June, the Red Army men said, the Germans brought up about 1000 reserves to replace casualties suffered in local fighting and concentrated the bulk of their forces south along the main fortified lines. obviously not expect ing an attack.
 Russian Artillery Aids
 Russian artillery opened up the Soviet attack with pulvertzing bombardment of the five main Nazi points of resistance, Suovidova, Kur- kovo, Rozhestvo, Pogoreloye- -Goro- dische and Kopilovo, opening the way for an infantry advance against light Nazi opposition.
 The Germans, however, moved up about 4OO> bombers and fighters into the Smolensk- k-Vyazma- -Vitebsk tri- angle and began an air attack which hindered the Soviet advance.
 Soviet fighter planes, I learned, prevented mass air attacks on Aug ust 4th and 5th but by August 9th the Germans brought lip sufficient fighters to protect their bombers.
 The Nazi launched as many aa $50 aerial sorties per day, slowing down the Russians, they also brought up units of the l4th motor ized infantry division. the 5th tank division and the 23Sth and l2oth il- fantry divisions.
 However, the Red Army moved ahead, capturing 1900 vehicles, kili- ing four or five thousand Germans and wovmding seven or eight thous- and. Soviet losses were relatively light due to effective artillery pre- paration.
 On both sides of the road leading from Pogoreloye- Gorodische to Rzhev, saw big bomb craterS left by the Russian air attack.
 The Red Army had rebuilt all the destroyed bridges and culyerts along the route of the advance.
 The town of PogoreIoye Gorodi. sche itself, is heavily marked by af- tiIlery fire, indicating the tisrcenesl