FRESH FORCES

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

FRESH FORCES

DRIVE AT KHERSON Russians Maintain Attacks On AH Fronts -N.Z. Press Association —Copyright Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 11. The Russians are bringing up fresh forces and massing for an offensive against the German bridgehead at Kherson, according to Vichy radio. Fighting has become more intense south-west of Dnepropetrovsk and north of Krivoi Rog. The Russian onslaught west, south-west and north of Kiev has been maintained with undiminished violence, while fighting is most violent in the Neval region and also west of Smolensk. Reuters correspondent in Moscow says that the Russians, in crossing the Teterev River, have passed the last natural obstacle before the old Polish border. Jitomir, which they are threatening in addition to Korosten, is one of the points where the Germans brcke through into Russia in their panzer attack in 1941. The Russians are now repeating the great break-through in reverse. Germans in Dnieper Bend The big Russian break-through south of Kiev has brought Soviet troops within striking of the main German supply line to the Dnieper bend. This sweeping advance followed two days of stalemate2s miles south of Kiev, where the Germans had massed tanks and motcrised infantry. Russian armoured columns, strongly reinforced, struck with overwhelming power and smashed their way forward. By fast night they were only nine miles from Byelaya Tserkov, on the Dnieper 'bend supply line. This Russian drive is opening a serious threat to the German armies in the Dnieper bend. 1 hese Russians are within 25 miles of the Smiet bridgehead over the Dnieper f Periaslavl, and the Germans caught between the two forces are now under considerable pressure One 'Moscow report says advanced patrols of the two Soviet forces have already made contact. If the Rus-sians-join up in strength the Germans will be in great danger of having their retreat cut off.