RUSSIAN FORCES MENACE GORODOK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN FORCES MENACE GORODOK

VIOLENT BATTLES Nazis Attack South-East Of Kirovograd N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 22. The Russian forces menacing Gorodok, the last big railway town before Vitebsk, are engaged in violent battles on either side of the main road and railway from Weval to Vitebsk, says The Times correspondent in Moscow. The Russian right wing is simultaneously descending the- valleys along the courses of many frozen rivers. They are thrusting towards the German communications which connect the most north-' erly White Russian fortress city with the vital base of Polotsk. The right: wing has succeeded in pinning down a substantial part of the German forces in this region. Germans are fiercely attacking south-east of Kirovograd in an attempt to wedge into the Russian lines between Kirovograd and Krivoi Rog. They are bringing up considerable tank and infantry reinforcements from other sectors, but, according to the Moscow newspaper Izvestia, in three days of fighting they have achieved nothing. Winter Army Launched The German News Agency spokesman stated: "The Russian winter army has come into the open. It comprises strategical reserves. The Germans have also thrown in reserves. The only difference between the two is that the Russians call theirs a winter army." The German-controlled Scandinavian newspaper Telegraph Bulau says the Germans may soon abandon Nikopol, their southernmost stronghold in the Dnieper bend. To-night's Russian communique savs: "The Russians south of Neyal adVanced and occupied over 20 inhabited localities. The Red Army south-west of Jlobin repelled coun-ter-attacks and caused heavy casualties to the enemy. "The Russians in the Korosten area repelled counter-attacks and improved their positions. The Red Army south-west of Kivorograd repelled counter-attacks and inflicted heavy losses."