BIG COUNTER-BLOWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 8, 11 January 1944, Page 5

BIG COUNTER-BLOWS

GERMANS DEFEND KEY LINE Kec. 11.45 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 10. As the Russian spearheads, striking southwards through the Ukraine, steadily approach the Odessa-Warsaw railway, life-line of yon Mannstein's southern front, the Germans, who have recovered from last week's confusion, are strongly resisting and carrying out powerful counter-attacks. The Germans in the Smela "funnel," who are midway between Vatutin's and Koniev's twin drives, are facing the threat of being trapped.

The direction of the Russian drive in the Vinnitsa region suggests that the Russians intend to by-pass Vinnitsa and cut off the railway south of Vinnitsa. Russian tanks and guns are now south-west of Vinnitsa. All the roads from the north-east and southeast to Vinnitsa have been severed. The Russians also menace the German railway link through Tsvietkovo. The Russians are within 10 miles of this railway at a point north of Uman. The Germans along the Dnieper, at the apex of the funnel, are clinging to the ground with great difficulty. If Vatutin keeps up the present rate of advance the Germans must attempt a fighting withdrawal. Their only alternative is encirclement.

HARRIED BY CAVALRY.

Heavy fighting is at present going on at the approaches to Shepetovka. The British tTnited Press Moscow correspondent reports that the Germans between Smela and Vinnitsa are falling back harried by Russian cavalry patrols armed with tommy-guns. These "Red devils," as they are called, pave the way for the tanks and motorised units.

The German overseas news agency, when stating that Russian units had reached Sarny, also reported that Russian landing-boats, on Saturday, attempted a landing on the Black Sea coast at Pervomaysk, west of Ochokov, whiefr is 40 miles east of Odessa. The news agency claimed that the attempt was frustrated. . Berlin radio's commentator, Captain Sertorius, declared that the character of the great battle on the south Russian front remained unchanged. "Sometimes we have to abandon ground in order to save our forces and prevent them from being cut off. "The fighting east'of Sarny and east of Rovno is at present static. The enemy pressure here has not increased in the past few days. This leads one to suppose that Vatutin has transferred strong forces southwards.

NAZIS IN KIROVOGRAD.

"German units are still holding out in the western suburbs of Kirovograd They could not, however, prevent Komev from switching, part of his forces in a south-easterly direction to threaten the German positions at KriV°"The 'fresh Russian attacks in the Ryechitsa area seem to be merely an attempt to pin down the German forces there." The German news agency s commentator yon Hammer says that in _ the area west of Ryechitsa the Russians succeeded in making minor breaches. He adds that extremely heavy fighting has developed at Voronovitsa, 15 miles south-east of Vinnitsa.. The Russians here succeeded in advancing in, a south-westerly direction.

RUSSIAN SUCCESSES.

RUTHLESS RED PURSUIT.

Russia's orders to her troops are to pursue, the Germans with all types of arms and beat them to the death, says "Pravda." • "All Red Army men are now filled with one thought—ruthlessly beating the pursuing enemy and not giving him a moment's respite," the. paper says, "Our successes are great. Our banners are favoured by victory, but the Soviet people are not given to complacency. The enemy is still capable of fighting frenziedly for every yard of territory, but we know he Is feeling the approach of the inevitable

hour of retribution for all his monstrous crimes.

I strous crimes. "The Soviet people, under the banner of Stalin, are confidently march--1 ing to victory. They will strain every effort to bring nearer the hour of : triumph of their just cause.

"Planes, tanks, mortars, machineguns, and ammunition are pouring to the front line in a mighty, endless stream."

While confidence is rising in Moscow, gloom is deepening in Berlin, say neutral correspondents. The German official spokesmen are no longer able to conceal the magnitude of the German defeat on the Russian front.

Emphasising the great superiority in man-power and material of the Red Army, a German spokesman told Swiss correspondents that the Germans must prepare for a general retreat.

The Moscow correspondent of "The Times" says the Russians have reached a village 45 miles due east of the vital railway junction of Zhnlerinka and 30 miles from the Odessa-Warsaw trunk railway.

Tonight's Soviet communique says that troops of the First, Ukrainian Front, continuing their offensive, captured two district centres in the Rovno region, two district centres in the Vinnitsa region, and one district centre in the Kiev region, besides 60 inhabited localities.

The Red Army has cut the railway between Smela and Khristinovka. The Russians north-west and north of Kirovograd took the offensive and captured Kamenka, a district centre, and over 50 inhabited localities.

"Because they refused to lay down their arms, we annihilated the greater part of the routed and encircled remains of three tank, one motorised, and one infantry divisions north of Kirovograd," the communique says. "Only insignificant and dispersed groups "succeeded in escaping. The Russians in this area captured 90 tanks, 114 guns, 124 mortars, and other booty. The Germans left 8000 dead on the battlefield."