WITHIN THE BEND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 3

WITHIN THE BEND

GREAT BATTLE OPENED. GERMANS ADMIT PRESSURE. COMMUNICATIONS MENACED 'N.Z Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 15. The Red Army is keeping up its rapid drive from Jitomir and is now fanning out northward, westward and southward toward the Rumanian and Polish borders. Simultaneously the Russians opened the new battle of the Dnieper Bend, which German sources say is on a great scale. Observers express the opinion that the twin offensives menace the German positions more seriously than ever before. The Russians, using vast forces, also launched major attacks in the Ryechitsa area and along the SmolenskMinsk highway, effectively pinning down German reserves in these northern areas and preventing their transport southwards to buttress the strained German positions against the crushing weight of the offensive. Reuter's correspondent at Moscow says that the bulge in General Vatutin’s army holds now 112 miles deep and over 50 miles wide. Formations on his right flank are steadily ’nearing the great railway junction, of Korosten, on the north-south railway, which may be of greater importance than Jitomir. One column is rapidly moving on Korosten, the fall of which is expected soon. Along the high road from Kiev Russian cavalry, fanning out in the plains between the north-south railway and the Pripet Marshes, threatens to cut off Korosten from the north. Forces pushing northward from Jitomir are making the third drive against Korosten. Russian sources are still silent regarding the progress of the battle within the Dnieper Bend where the Germans said, over 300,000 Russian troops are employed. The German High Command, however, Emitted that the Russians are making attempts to break through and also that a breach has been made above Krivoi Rog. The Germans did not claim that this breach had been’sealed up. The Berlin radio commentator (Cap-

tain Sertorius) stated that the Russians, advancing with superior forces, gained ground north of Krivoi Rog and were only halted by German coun-ter-thrusts. He added that the Russian pressure in this whole sector continues.

The British United Press correspondent at Moscow says that the Germans are making the greatest efforts in the Fastov region, where enormous forces of tanks, infantry and cavalry are interlocked in battle. The Germans are striving to stem the advance that is threatening to break the backbone of their communications in the Ukraine.

A break-through in this area would bring the Russians almost 250 miles west of the Germans at Kremenchug, in rear of the big battle for Krivoi Rog. This might enclose the Germans in the Dnieper trap or force headlong retreat.

The correspondent adds that notwithstanding the great battles the weather is holding up the Russians, who are fighting the last phases of their autumn campaign. The great winter offensive is almost ready. The Russians along the whole front are consolidating their positions, making final preparations.

Reuter’s correspondent at Moscow says that the Russians are now five miles from the railway between Gomel and Ryechitsa and seven miles from Ryechitsa itself. The Paris radio declares that crack Russian forces are attacking* in the Nevel and Gomel sectors where the Germans have at some points been forced to modify their lines.