RUSSIAN DRIVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 November 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN DRIVES

GREAT PROGRESS CLAIMED KIEV BULGE BATTLE LONDON, November 22. The renewed Russian drive in the Dnieper Bend has made great strides in the last 24 hours. The Red Army, storming down the roads and railways south-west of Dnepropetrovsk, has broken through the German defences and captured a string. .. of towns. The Russians are now more than half-way to the important, rail junction of Apostolovo. The Russians have also struck across the neck of the Dnieper Bend from south of Kremenchug. Yesterday they broke through the German defences in this area and captured eight heavily fortified strongpoints. The Germans resisted fiercely with massed tanks and infantry, but they suffered.very severe losses and failed to check the Russians. In one sector alone the enemy lost 3000 men and 60 tanks.

Strong German forces are still trying to break through the southern flank of the Russian bulge beyond Kiev. A Russian communique says that three fierce German tank attacks at one place were met by artillery fire which compelled the enemy to withdraw, leaving 38 disabled tanks on the battlefield. At another point 14 German tanks were destroyed. The Moscow radio says that not only were all the German attacks flung back, but the Russians also counter-attacked, regaining two -heights and three small towns. However, the situation here must still be regarded as rather serious. The Russians yesterday continued to advance in the Ryezhitsa area towards Gomel.

The German News Agency reports: Russian forces made another seaborne landing south of Kerch. Twenty landing-craft escorted by gunboats participated. The Agency claims that three fully-laden craft were sunk, three reached the objective, and the remainder were driven off. SERIES OF GAINS. (Rec. 1.10) LONDON, Nov. 22. To-night’s Soviet communique says: Russians in the Dnieper Bend fought local engagements, as the result of which they improved their positions and south of Kremenchug captured nine strongpoints. The Red Army at. Chernayakhov, ten miles north of the Jitomir and Korostychev area continued to repulse tank and infantry attacks, inflicting heavy losses. The Red Army in the lower reaches of the Pripet River captured 12 inhabited places and the Pripet rail station, and west of Ryechitsa captured 16 inhabited places. The Russians north of Gomel captured a number of centres of resistance.

The Tass Agency states that the Grozny oilfields, which were intensely bombed a year ago, are now restored to former productive capacity.

FURTHER SUCCESS. (Rec. 11.45) LONDON, Nov. 22. The Russians* in the Dnieper Bend have advanced about 20 miles on a 30 mile front after breaking through the German defences east of the Kremen-chug-Snamenka railway, says Reuter’s correspondent. One spearhead in the big new drive crossed the railway, and is now 25 miles north-east of Snamenka: another force, driving south is now 28 miles east of Snamenka. This drive, as it develops, threatens the rear of the Germans facing the Russian attack from north-east of Cherkasy. The Russians at the same time are renewing their pressure on the southeast corner of the Dnieper Bend, where they are narrowing the German-held area around Nikopol. They are 30 miles north-west of Nikopol. The “Times” Moscow correspondent says the Russians’ thrust south of Kremenchug was carefully timed to coincide with the Cherkasy operations with the object of dividing the German forces on the railway between Smyela and Snamenka. GERMAN ATTACK FAILING (Rec. 10.35 a.m.)”LONDON, Nov. 22. Two developments of tremendous significance dominate the Russian front to-day. say Moscow dispatches. Firstly, the Red Army has assumed the offensive against the Germans' counter-blow from Jilomir. Secondly, the Red Army has started the final campaign to clear the Germans from the entire west bank of the Dnieper by operations around Cherkasy, and a massive assault south of Kremenchug, against the Germans in toe Dnieper Bend. . News from the Russian front is die best for days, says the British United Press. The Red Army in the JitomirKorostyshev areas, after withstanding German counter blows for eight days, has gone over to the offensive at several points. Russian tank units have now reached the battlefield, engaging enemy armour in a series of stiff fights, forcing them to withdraw with terrific losses. The tide of the battle east of Jitomir and Korostyshev appears to be turning in the Russians’ favour. The Germans are still counter-attacking, but the enemy's counteroffensive is now being waged against prepared Russian positions, in which Vatutin’s men are contesting every yard. The Russian General Stall’s object in launching the assault south of Kremenchug is to wipe out the German foothold on the Dnieper Bend which with a successful conclusion of the operations in the Cherkasy sector would gain complete control of the west bank', of the Dnieper for the Russians. The Red Army, during the tremendous assault south of Kremenchug, killed 3000 Germans and destroyed 60 tanks. A bitter battle is going on at Cherkasy, where the Rusians are still pouring across the Dnieper and the Germans clinging to the defences around the city." GERMAN NEW SHELL STOCKHOLM, Nov. 22. The Scandinavian Telegram Bureau reports that the Germans arc now using a secret shell, which is capable of piercing the thickest armour. These shells have been used in the battle north of Krivoi Rog, where they penetrated the Russian mam - moth tanks, which hitherto had been mnpierceable. HUNGARIAN FEARS. LONDON, November 22. The Hungarian Minister of Propa- ■ ganda, M. Antal, in a speech quoted bv the Budapest radio, said: “The war front is approaching the frontiers of our country. European na- ■ tions in the Spring will be faced with a great trial of strength, Hungary’s two main tasks are to increase ; the" country’s military capacity and ' support by all means resistance on the home "front.