Evening star., 1943-03-13
Nazis Continue
Their Drive
For Kharkov
Some Attacks Beaten
Off by Reds, but
Offensive Goes On
By the Associated Press.

0S the associated Press.
LONDON, March 13.-The Rec
Army has repulsed some enemy
attacks in violent engagements
west of Kharkov, but neverthe-
less the Germans continued their
push toward the city, the Rus
sian noon communique. as re-
corded by the Soviet radio moni-
tor here, said today.
"Disregarding their tremendous
losses In manpower and material,
the Hitlerites continued their push
toward the city," the war bulletin
said.
German headquarters assert
ed that Nazi troops had occupied
the main railway station in Khar-
kov after Soviet resistance had
been Shattered" but admitted
that fierce street fighting still
ragged in some districts of the
city. There was no confirmation
from any Russian source)
I'm two days of fighting, units of
x formation destroyed SO German
tanks and more than 100 trucks
and killed several thousand Ger
mans, the Russians said.
South of Kharkov Red Army men
OF * formation disabled or burned
out II German tanks and killed
about 300 German officers and
men"
Rostov Charges Repeated.
The communique broadcast was
delayed after its regular period
The Moscow radio devoted that time
instead to repeating a special an
nouncement of last night which
said that $4,000 men, women and
children had been shot or poisoned
by the Germans during their occu-
patton Of Rostov. The playing of
funeral music followed Its reading.
The midday communique also said
the Russians were expanding their
offensive west of newly won
Vyazma.
Several towns were captured west
of the city and German garrisons
along heavily-fortif1ed defense lines
retreated in disorder when thev
were faced by encirclement, the
war bulletin said.
About 400 enemy dead and a
large quantity Of arms remained on
the battlefield, it was declared.
Several more towns were captured
south of Belly. which is 80 miles
northeast of Smolensk, in a Red
Army advance which overwhelmed
German resistance, the Russians
said.
The communique repeated the
statement that wanna was cap
tured after violent engagements and
added:
I'm the period during their oc-
cupation and before their retreat,
the Germans devasted and destroyed
the town.
I'm all Soviet villages and towns,
the Hitlerites engaged in open
brigandage and plunder. The de-
struction they carried out in Vyazma
was heavier than anywhere else.
The German bandits ransacked
and destroyed all cultural institu-
tions and historical, monuments in
this town.
The fascist barbarians ransacked
and demolished the local drama
theater, the cinema, the museum,
schools, the house of culture, the
railway mems club, the house of
Young Pioneers and the local hos
pital. Ancient buildings built in
the first half of the 18th century
have been turned into ruins. The
German Fascist invaders also de-
molished the Vyazma Cathedral"
tThe German account yester-
day Of the evacuation of Vyazma
declared that German airmen
had bombed the city to make it
unflt for Russian use. claiming
that only the cathedral and two
hopsitals in the center of the
city were spared)
1,500 Villagers Rescued.
The Russians also said they res
cued from German guns 1900 villag-
ers who had been herded into the
(See RUSSIA Page A-5)