HUGE NEW RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE LOOMING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 269, 12 November 1943, Page 3

HUGE NEW RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE LOOMING

COMPLETE CONTROL Enemy's Strategic Reserves Pinned Down N.Z. Press Association —Copyright Hec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 11. General Vatutin's immense sweep across the Western Ukraine from Kiev is preparing the way for the i first big blow of the winter campaign. A huge new Russian offensive is in the offing, declares the British United Press correspondent in Moscow. The German High Command is likely soon to appreciate fully the meaning of "grabbing the bear by the tail." But a comparative lull is likely to precede the new action, the correspondent continues. The wiping out of the German positions in the lower Dnieper and the fall of Kiev must entail the regrouping and redistribution of Russian forces. Nevertheless, the Russian High Command's complete control of the situation will enable the Red Army to redistribute its troops to any points required. On the other hand, General Vatutin's and General Alalinovsky's advances west of Kiev and south-west of Dnepropetrovsk respectively compel the Germans to concentrate their available reserves on these sectors, thereby minimising their chances of regrouping their forces and meeting the new Russian thrusts on other fronts. The Germans are at.present unable to move their strategic reserves without risking a complete Russian break-through. The first snow has fallen in the Western Ukraine and the Kiev Plains are white, says Reuters Moscow correspondent, nut the nrst taste of winter has so far not slowed down General Vatutin's thrust, which has already penetrated tne Jitomir Province. The Russians at pome points are only about 2o miles from Jitomir. The Germans are expected to defend strenuously Jitoinu and Berdichcv because these bas- - - -.-.-orr the B-s Fiver ilp.cnccn.