BIG PUSH

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1943, Page 5

BIG PUSH

IN WHITE RUSSIA GERMANS IN DISORDER Enemy Strikes Harder Towards Kiev LOWER DNIEPER STRUGGLE CONTINUES [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 6.30.) , LONDON, Nov. 29. A Soviet communique on Monday night stated: Between the Soj and Dnieper Rivers, Russian forces captured over forty inhabited places, including Smychek (thirty-three miles north-west of Gomel) and between the Dnieper and the Beresina Rivers, south of Jlobin, captured several places, including Streshin (twelve miles south of Jlobin). Russian forces on the lower course of the Prinet River captured several strongpoints. i Reuter’s Moscow correspondent states: On the White Russian front Russian forces are keeping up the momentum of a victorious advance. General Rokossovsky’s Guards are-ad-along the north bank of the Beresina River, and have reached a point twenty-five miles from Bobruisk, which is the key to the enemy’s supply system for his entire Lower White Russian line. Red Army forces are steadily increasing an outflanking threat to Jlobin and are now approaching a long stretch of the Bobruisk-Jlobin road and railway. Both routes are crowded with German reserves. The Jlobin Junction itself is choked with a confused mass of transport. The whole White Russian offensive has taken on a steady hammering rhythm. The North Ukrainian bridgehead is completely merged with the south 1 White Russian bridgehead. The Russians are well across the Dnieper for nearly 200 miles from below Zhlobin to above Pereyaslavl, and for most of this distance the depth of their hold on the western side is 50 to 70 miles. The German line on the Upper Dnieper which not long ago seemed likely to be turned by the advance on Smolensk, is now actually being turned from the south up the Valley of Beresina. (Rec. 8.35) LONDON, Nov. 30. A supplementary communique issued at Moscow on Tuesday stated: More than forty localities have been occupied north-west of Gomel. Russian forces have occupied several defence centres on the lower reaches of the Pripet River. They wiped out a German battalion, destroyed four batteries and recaptured looted gram. A Moscow supplementary communique stated: Russian forces developed their success in Cherkasy area 1 , where, after capture of Rus-kayja-Polyana, other inhabited localities were occupied. Units of a Russian formation south-west of Kremenchug, by a skilful manoeuvre, captured S a strongly-fortified enemy strong point. The enemy counterattacked, aiming to restore his positions. but was thrown back. Russians in the Dnieper Bend took part in fierce fighting, in which there were a number of localities. tured and destroyed much German material. Jlobin’s Number Up RUSSIANS CLOSING IN FAST (Rec. 1.1 a.m.) ~LONDON, Nov 30 Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, stated: General Rokossovsky’s army is speeding across the last ten rnilos separating it from Jlobin . Wh '® one Soviet column is driving on Jlobin in preparation for a frontal attack, other Russians forces have swung round to by-pass this vital rail junction. German forces in this area' are in utter confusion. in many isolated spots they are surrendering after being surrounded Another Russian force has pushed up the Dnieper from the south, and is within seven miles of the outskirts of Jlobin. Moscow “Red Star” stated: Heavy tanks were ferried across the Beresina River and are leading , the Russian offensive against Jlobin. Large territory has been won in the past 24 'hours, including a number of large villages. Heavy losses have been inflicted on the enemy. AN ENEMY ESTIMATE OF GOMEL SECTOR (Rec. 1.1) LONDON, Nov. 30. Vichy radio says: The situation in the Gomel sector is still tense. Russian pressure has increased against Jlobin. Some Russian forces succeeded in crossing the Beresina River but they remain confined to small bridgeheads. GERMANS RESIST BETWEEN RIVERS. (Rec. 11.0. y LONDON, Nov. 30. The Germans are resisting particularly stubbornly between the Dnieper and Beresina Rivers. ; Perekop Isthmus RUSSIAN ATTACK. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON, Nov. 29. According to the German News Agency’s commentator Von Hammer a tremendous German artillery S re broke up two Red Army attacks yesterday against Perekop Isthmus. The Russians’ attacks were preceded by heavy bombardment supported by Stormoviks. The Red Army continued a bombardment all night-long. The big attack is expected to be resumed to-day (Monday). The Lower Dnieper RUSSIAN PRESSURE. (Rec. 6.30.'), LONDON, Nov. 29. A Soviet communique stated on Monday: ' Russian forces in the Cherkasy area occupied a number of strongly fortified centres of resistance, including Ruskaya Polyana (five miles west-south-west of Cherkasy). Russian forces south-west of Kremenchug occupied several fortified strong points. In the Dnieper Bend Russians occupied a number of strongly fortified centres of resistance including Gorievka (fifteen miles nortneast of Nikopol) and Nikolai-Pol (thirty-five miles north-east of Nikopol). The Stockholm correspondent of “The Times” says: There is German emphasis on the strength of Russian operations against a German bridgehead opposite Nikopol in the Lower Dnieper This indicates that the Germans do not expect to. hold the bridge-head or the Nikopol area much longer. Abandonment of Nikopol would represent for the enemv a defeat incomparably greater than any other recent loss, because of Nikopol’s managnese, which is almost indispensable for German war industry, and accounts certainly more than anv other single factor for the prolonged German resistance

put up by the Germans inside or the Dnieper Bend. > The Germans admit a German withdrawal south of Kremenchug. They claim that heavy Red Army attacks against Perekop Isthmus have been repulsed. Captain Sertorius said: The Russians south of Kremenchug on Sunday intensified their attack, and because they are continuously throwing in enormous quantities of material the Germans had to withdraw their defence line s at some points in this sector. GERMAN WITHDRAWAL (Rec. 1.11) LONDON, Nov. 30. Paris radio states: The German lines south of Kremenchug have been withdrawn several miles. THE LINE OF THE DNIEPER HOW IT IS SHARED. LONDON, Nov. 29. 1 A correspondent reports from Moscow : Russians now hold almost as much of the Germans “Winter Line” along the Dnieper as the Germans themselves. The upper stretch of the 150 miles above Oraha to below Zhlobin is still German. Then comes the Russian stretch of nearly 200. miles, nearly to Pereyaslavl. This is followed by about 100 miles mostly in German hands, but broken in the bend. The Germans still have about 150 miles to the Dnieper mouth. Reports of heavy, Russian pressure in the Lower Dnieper suggest that even the precarious German holds on tne Dnieper may soon be further reduced. German Counter-attacks KIEV BULGE BATTLES. LARGE GERMAN ARMOURED. FORCES. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON. Nov. 29. A Soviet communique on Monday night stated: Russian forces in Korosten, Chemyakhov and Brusilov areas, (in the Kiev Bulge region) have repelled German infantry and tank attacks. Moscow messages indicate that four more German Panzer formations have been identified west of Kiev, where the Germans claim tho recapture of Korosten. This shows the Germans have conceneratea against the Russians in the salient west of Kiev probably the biggest armoured force thev have succeeded in assembling anywhere on the Eastern front since the tremendous failure against the Kursk salient in July. News indicated there is still no diminution in confidence that the main weight of the German counteroffensive has been checked. The. failure of such a venture must make it most difficult for the Germans to assemble another large force for checking the further course of the Russian offensive. What has 'hitherto been called the Kiev Bulge has in anv case become so large now it is unlikely it can be liquidated. RUSSIANS HOLD GROUND ti (Re’c. 9.50) LONDON, Nov. 30. A communique issued at Moscow stated: The Germans in the Chernyakov and Bruislov areas have continued to attack with motorised infantry and tanks. Russian forces Repulsed the attacks, and inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans. MUCH HEAVIER ENEMY ATTACK. IN DIRECTION OF KIEV (Rec. 1.1) LONDON, Nov. 30. Moscow radio reports: The 1 Germans are how throwing in southwest of Kiev, tank brigades from France, Belgium, Italy and Norway. They also are using dozens of infantry divisions. . ■ KOROSTEN BATTLE. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON, Nov. 29. Enemv sources on Monday night modified earlier assertions of a complete German seizure of Korosten. Berlin radio described the action at Korosten. the loss of which Berlin never admitted. It said: "Russians penetrated the town. They barricaded themselve? in 'houses. Germans .counter-attacked immediately. Our grenadiers annihilated the bulk of the 226th Rifle Division. The remainder of the Russian forces withdrew to three strongholds within- the ' town, where they face destruction.”