DRAMATIC STRUGGLE IN DNIEPER TRAP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 116, 11 February 1944, Page 5

DRAMATIC STRUGGLE IN DNIEPER TRAP

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 1 0. In the great Soviet campaign in southern Russia the armies of Generals Malinovsky and Tolbukhin, united after the German rout in the Nikopol area, are getting into position for the final attack on Krivoi Rog, the only big industrial centre in the Dnieper bend still in German hands, and are also keeping up the advance toward the Black Sea. Krivoi Rog is now half encircled. Red Army troops, fanning out from Apostolovo, yesterday captured a place 1 0 miles southeast of the great iron ore centre. Other strong forces are north I and north-west of'the town. , Widespread mopping-up operations are being carried out south of Apostolovo. I During the day the Germans in the middle Dnieper trap continued their furious efforts to get out, aided by panzer attacks from outside. The Red Army further constricted the area, taking several places, and killed about 1000 of the enemy, while the Germans outside were held off and lost 40 tanks.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent last night reported: ‘‘The 10 German divisions trapped in the Kgnev pocket are desperately holding out against the ever-tightening Russian ring in the hope of succour from their comrades fighting west of Svenigorodka. The Russians have intercepted almost hysterical messages between FieldMarshal von Mannsteln and the entrapped forces. “The Germans west of Svenigorodka are throwing in more and more tanks in almost continuous onslaughts, by which they hope to relieve the encircled troops. The Russians so far have held off the attacks, which frontline, dispatches say have reached a new pitch of intensity.” Northern Trap Predicted The correspondent states that a third “trap” is about to close round the beaten German divisions at Luga. south of Leningrad. The Russians in this area, after advancing to the north bank of the Oredezh River along a broad front, have crossed the river at-a point 10 miles north-east of Luga and captured the Oredezh district centre. The river is a tributary of the Luga River and joins jt 10 miles north-east of Luga. Last night’s Soviet communique said: “The Russians in the Luga direction occupied a district centre in the Leningrad region, Oredezh. and more than 30 other inhabited localities. The 'Red Army south-west of Novgorod repelled counterattacks and in offensive operations occupied a number of places, including the railway station of Mdike. “The Russians north of Svenigorodka and Shpolo continued to battle for the annihilation of the encircled German forces. They again tightened, the ring and occupied the town of Gorodishche, 20 miles north of Shpola. West of Apostolovo they advanced and occupied over 40 inhabited localities. The Red Army north-west and west of Nikopol occupied a district centre in the Dnepropetrovsk region, Chkalvo, and a number of other places, including Alexeevka and Polrovskoye and also two railway stations.” < Yesterday’s German communique reported strong Soviet pressure on all the main battle zones between the Black Sea and Leningrad, and said the Russians made local penetrations at some points.