CHEPOVICHI FALLS TO UKRAINIAN ARMY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 271, 15 November 1943, Page 3

CHEPOVICHI FALLS TO UKRAINIAN ARMY

KIEV-WARSAW LINE

Vatautin Aims To Drive On To Brest Litovsk N.Z. Press Association— Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 14. "Troops of the First Ukrainian Army captured Chepovichi, on the Kiev-Warsaw railway, less than 20 miles south-east of Korosten, and over 50 other places," reports tonight's Soviet communique. "The Red Army on the Kerch Peninsula, overcoming counter-attacks, captured two strongholds." Emphasising the value of the Russian thrust toward Korosten, the British United Press correspondent says the capture of Korosten will cut the Korosten-Berdichev loop railway line running behind Jitomir and, finally break the Germans' lateral communications. The correspondent adds that three armoured columns are threatening Korosten from the east, from the east-north-east ana from the south-east. British military observers say General Vatutin aims to drive on to Brest Litovsk, in Poland, thus cutting off all road and railway communications from the German armies north of Kiev. Before General Vatutin lies a flat corridor with the Carpathian Mountains to protect his iett flank and the Pripet Marshes on nis right flank. The Germans in the past few days have made very determined counterattacks from Fastov, where they have concentrated heavy reserves, and nave held up the Russian advance against Vinnitsa. The enemy has also held up the extension of the Russian salient south-west or Kiev through counter-attacks Between Bvelayatserkov and *astoy. The Red Army has resumed its drives on both sides of Gomel with several infantry and tank auacitb. The German News Agency commentator, von Hammer, admitted tnat the Russians broke through twice, but claimed that they were beaten back. He added that the Russians also broke the German line in tne Neval area, but were repelled. SURRENDER DEMAND ON GERMANS IN THE CRIMEA Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 14. According to the Stockholm newspaper Social Demokraten, the Russians have sent an ultimatum demanding the surrender of the Germans in the Crimea. Field-Marshal von Mannstein is stated to nave ordered General Jaenecke, commander of the Crimean forces, to refuse the ultimatum and hold -out at an costs. Von Mannstein told JaenecKe that reinforcements of tanks, ammunition and food were being rushed to the Crimea by air. v GERMAN SADISM ATROCITIES IN RUSSIA Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 14. A report by the Soviet Atrocity Commission states that the Germans lit human bonfires before they were driven from liberated areas in Russia. In one of these holocausts 270 old men, woman and children were burned alive in a barn ax o. village in the Chernigov province The report adds that the Germans deliberately starved to death tens oi thousands of Russian prisoners Over 50,000 civilians were kuiea uy hunger, torture and shooting m tne Donbas area.