RED ARMIES CLOSING IN ON KIROVOGRAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 295, 13 December 1943, Page 3

RED ARMIES CLOSING IN ON KIROVOGRAD

HIGHWAYS CENTRE

Russians Use Encircling

Tactics

N.Z. Press Association —Copyright

Rec. 11 a.m.

LONDON, Dec. 12

Three Russian columns are now closing in on the industrial and railway centre of Kirovograd, reports the British United Press correspondent in Moscow. One force is advancing from Fedvar, 15 miles north of Kirovograd on the railway to Smyela. Another column is driving down from Sakharnaya, which is a similar distance northeast of Kirovograd. A third column, which captured Novgrodka, 18 miles to the south-east, forms the left flank of a great arc threatening to encircle Kirovograd. Additional Soviet formations in this area are ready to strike to the south-east in a new drive against Krivoi Rog.

The Germans are left with three possible highways for retreat from Kirovograd, the Russians* having cut the other four great exit roads from the city. The highways still open to the Germans are those to Odessa and to Nikolayev and a highway running westward. The Russians are following the successful tactics they employed throughout the summer —cutting the majority of supply routes before directly assaulting their objective. They are now moving up large infantry and tank forces from Snamenka for a final assault on Kirovograd. . , , Deeper within the Dnieper bend Russian forces, driving against Krivoi Rog, are meeting tenacious German resistance, but the bitterest fighting on the whole front at present is occurring south and soutnWest of Malin, in the Kiev bulge. The Germans in this area continue to battle desperately in an attempt to smash into the Kiev salient, ine enemy, after five days of costly fighting in the Malin and Chernyakhov areas, is still hurling in fresh masses of men and armour, lney have gained some territory, but nave not broken the Russian lines at any point. . ■{•„ The Germans are suffering terrific losses in tanks and manpower, in newspaper, Moscow News, quotes Russian tank officer's explanation for the German gains. The Soviet High Command tactics are to inflict the maximum losses on the Germans rather than rigidly to hold on jf 0 pqsitions at any particular point. The Times correspondent in mos cow. says Russian reports from in Kiev sector maintain a confident to The<2erman News Agency reports that heavy and fluctuating jetties were fought all Friday in the town of Cherkasy.