STRONG GERMAN RESISTANCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13332, 20 December 1943, Page 3

STRONG GERMAN RESISTANCE

DNIEPER BEND SECTOR RUSSIAN DRIVE ON KIROVOGRAD Attempts to Check Red Army Fail Big Offensive Reported In the North London, Dec. 10. The Russian armies in the western part of the Dnieper bend are still meeting strong German resistance in their drive on the road junction of Kirovograd. The Germans are counter-attack-ing with tanks and infantry and with strong dive-bomber support in attempts to check the Russian advance. Red Army men are meeting these attacks with artillery and mortar fire. In the biggest of these clashes yesterday they killed about a thousand Germans and knocked out 17 tanks before the enemy called off his attack. These German counter-blows have slowed the Russian advance but they have failed to pin it, several more points guarding the way to * Kirovograd having been captured.

Russian aircraft are striking continuously at supply lines in the enemy’s rear. They have also helped to silence a number of enemy artillery and mortar batteries. There has been no confirmation yet from Moscow of German reports of a big Red Army offensive round Nevel at the northern end of the White Russia front. The Germans say the Russians are attacking in strength to the south and north-west of Nevel. To-day’s communique from Hitler’s headquarters mentions particularly fierce fighting north-west of Nevel, where the Russians are reported to be throwing in strong armoured formations.

Although they say they have inflicted heavy losses on the Russians the Germans make no claim to have stemmed the attacks.