SWEEPING ON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 30, 15 November 1943, Page 4

SWEEPING ON.

THE LATEST

RUSSIANS PAST JITOMIR. * OBJECTIVE ON POLISH BORDER (N.Z. .Press Association — (Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 14. General Vatutin, “Lightning Vatutin,” as Moscoav has dubbed him, has swept on from Jitomir with tAVo main targets—the Polish border, 60 miles away to the Avest across asphalt roads, and Korosten, to the north. Reuter’s correspondent at Moscoav says that the right wing of General Vatutin’s army striking northwards is already less than 30 miles from Korosten. The loss of Jitomir has thrown German communications in the Ukraine into confusion. The enemy lost the most important shunting yard, from Avhicli he previously regrouped and SAvitched troops needed for various sectors in the Ukraine and sectors further south.

Red Army officers studying the tactics which won Jitomir established the fact that the speed of the advance from Kiev, which was mainly due to the extensive use bf cavalry, made the capture of Jitomir possible. The Germans between Kiev and Jitomir made several determined stands hut were outflanked every time. * General Vatutin’s columns, thrus* ting out westwards and northwards and also, in less strength, southwards toward Berdichev, from Jitomir still consist of an* advance guard of a tank column and Cossacks, who are descending against the enemy like an avalanche with sabre charges and are striking at the Germans’ flanks. Red Army Spearheads. Red Army spearheads of cavalry and. tanks moved twenty-five miles in a single day in the advance from Kiev to Jitomir, says the Columbia (American) Broadcasting System’s correspondent at Moscoav. He says that fighting in the steppes west of Kiev proved that despite the important petrol engine in modern warfare, cavalry are still a factor with which a smart general can win battles. Emphasising the value bf the Russians’ thrust toward Korosten, the British United Press says that the capture of Korosten will cut the Korosten-B'erdichev loop line running behind Jitomir, and finally break the Germans’ lateral communications. He adds that three armoured columns are threatening Korosten from the east, from the east-north-east, and - from the south-east. 1 Paul Winter ton, the Moscow correspondent of the “News-Chronicle,” says that the battle of the Kiev bulge has been a great triumph for Soviet gen- : eralship. By driving parallel to the Pripet Marshes but some distance to , the south, the Russians have compelled the Germans to Avithdraw their . major forces from territory north of • their advance. Thus they cleared a ] much greater area than appears on ] the map. i

British, military observers say that General Vatutin aims to drive on to Bi’est Litovslc, in Poland, thus cutting off all road and railway communication from the German armies north of Kiev. Before General Vatutin lies a flat corridor with the Carpathian Mountains to protect his left flank and the Pripet Marshes on the right flank.

Determined Counter-attacks,

The Germans in the last few days have made very determined counterattacks from Fastov, where they have concentrated heavy reserves and held up the Russian advance against Vinnitsa. The enemy also held up the extensions of the Russians’ salient south-west of Kiev counter* attacks between Byelayatserkov and Fastov.

The Red Army has resumed its drives on both sides of Gomel with several infantry and tank attacks.

The German News Agency commentator (von Hammer) admitted that the Russians broke through twice, hut he claimed that they were beaten back. He said that the Russians also broke the German line in the NeVel area but were repelled. According to the Stockholm newspaper “Social Democraten” the Russians have sent an ultimatum demand ing the surrender of the Germans in the Crimea. Marshal von Mannstein is stated to have ordered General Jaenecke (commander of the forces in the Crimea) to reject the ultimatum and hold out at all costs. Mannstein told Jaenerke that reinforcements, tanks, ammunition and food are being rushed to the Crimea by air. The Soviet newspaper “Red Star” declares that M. Stalin’s genius and leadership which raised modem military science to a new level is smashing the enemy’s plans. The whole world can see that the Red Army is superior to the Fascist troops in all respects.

FIERCE STREET FIGHTING. (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 14. In the operations leading to the capture of Jitomir the Russians bypassed a town from the west, east and south without giving respite to. the enemy, states_a Soviet communique. Fierce street fighting lasted until lato in the evening. Finally Soviet troops routed the enemy completely and occupied the' town. They captured huge booty. A Soviet partisan group operating in a certain area of the Jitomir region derailed two German military trains and three repair trains running to the front. Over 400 dead or injured Germans wore seen and taken from the wreckage.—British Official "Wireless.