Evening star., 1943-03-15
Russian Forces Admit Setback
In One Sector of Khorkov Front
After Nazis Claim Fall of Civ
Fierce Fighting
Raging, Reds Say;
New Line Formed
BY EDDY GILMORE,


MOSCOW, March 15.-Fierce
fighting is raging in the Kharkov
area day and night as Soviet
troops struggle against large
forces of enemy tanks and mo-
toriZed infantry.
The German high command
announced yesterday that the
German southern army group
had encircled and occupied the
great industrial and railroad
center of Kharkov after bitter
flghtingD
New Defense Line.
After stiff battles the Germans
succeeded in pressing the Red Army
back to a new defense line in one
sector at the price of large losses,
It was announced today.
military sources in London
speculated that Russian forces
which have been threatening
German-held Orel from the
south might be forced to with
vi a anu SlI diSliltIl tiltIl lIDIlG
to save themselves from being
cut off as a result of German
successes at Kharkov. 1T looks
as though Kharkov is gone
these sources conceded.
(Today's broadcast German
communique said Russian losses
at Kharkov we're yet to be sur
veyed," and that Soviet counter
attacks west of Bergorod had
collapsed with heavy losses, in
cluding the destruction of A Red
Army tanksD
Attack Reported Repulsed.
The midday communique an
nounced that one Soviet unit with
held the onslaught of German tanks
and repulsed incessant enemy at
lacks continuing day and night.
The communique made no men,
ton of fighting in Kharkov itself,
the communique speaking only gen.
orally of the "Kharkov area"
I'm the Kharkov area our troops
waged fierce engagements against
large forces of enemy tanks and mo-
sorized Infantry" the bulletin said.
During the day and night Red
Army men Of one unit repulsed in
cessant Hitlerite attacks. By anti
tank gunfre and rifle fire six self
propelled guns were disabled and IA
tanks destroyed. Over 900 Germans
we're killed by rife and machine
gun fire and in hand-to-hand
fighting"
Heavy Battles TO North.
To the north of Kharkov heavy
battles with Soviet artillery fighting
off repeated attacks of large Ger
man tank and infantry forces and
inf1icting enormous losses on the
enemy, dispatches said.
The Soviet drive west and south
of Vyazma was reported progressing
at full speed as the Red Army cap
tured several dozen more settle
nents in the last II hours. dislodg-
ing the Germans from hurriedly
fortified positions around the towns.
The fall of Semlevo railway sta
ton, ID miles west Of wanna on
the wanna -Smolensk line, was an
bounced in the midday communique.
The troops under Lit. Gems. Goro-
Gov and V. S. Polenov which stormed
wanna were said to be smashing
forward to the west and south OF
the city in the face of numerous
German counterattacks.
Planes and Tanks Used.
A dispatch to Pravda said the
Germans were employing airplanes
and tanks in these counterattacks
IN an effort to halt the Soviet ad-
vance in this sector.
Northwest of wanna on the west
ern bank of the Upper Dnieper
Soviet infantry captured several
fortified towns
The assaults were preceded by
heavy shelling by Red Army artil-
lery which is sticking closely to the
advancing frQntline.
The midday communique an
nounced fresh Soviet breakthrough
In the line of German Notifications
south Of Belly as the offensive de-
veloped successfully in this sector.
No reports were published today on
other sectors Of the Soviet German
front.