ADVANCE SOUTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1944, Page 5

ADVANCE SOUTH

THREE GREAT DRIVES Germans Face Disastrous Possibilities N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Mar, 7. Marshal Zhukov's armies in three great thrusts to the Carpathians are quickly driving beyond the newly severed Ociessa-Lwow railway, reports Reuters Moscow correspondent. The Russians are smashing through the hastily reorganised German defence lines. Their central advance is south of the railway. Other Russian forces are fanning out on either side. The Russians are only a few miles from Tarnopol, while the thrust of the left flank is aimed at Proskurov. Although the Germans are retreating they are not yet routed, and are constantly attempting to make stands on new lines, but von Mannstein now faces disastrous possibilities at every turn. If the Russians continue the present rate of advance von Mannstein is faced with the choice of making a stand on the Upper Dniester, with the likelihood of being thrown back against the Carpathians, or attempting to retreat westward into southern Poland. Despite the cutting of the only direct railway, this would involve the virtual' abandonment ot tne armies in the Dnieper Bend. The German overseas news agencysays the Germans, faced with strong enemy pressure in Shepetwka sector, have withdrawn their lines about six miles." The agency quotes a German military spokesman as stating that the battle in the Shetjetovka area is taking a dramatic development. Marshal Zhukov, in the view of informed German drcles! is trying to deal a final blow asainst the Wehrmacht. g The newspaper Izvestia reports that debris from the retreating Gerrnanv Army litters the roads. Guns Sid"martars are piled up everywhere.

Many Places Captured To-night's Russian communique J, 0 that troops of the First Ukrainian Front to day continued to develop the offensive and captured Podvolochvsk three miles from Volochysk also Atarayasinyava which »5 the rpntre of the ivameneifeyu 6Y T i;" eS en™y Ot sectors were repelled with heavy losses in "lieriS! yon lie