TRIPLE DRIVE

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 5

TRIPLE DRIVE

BY RUSSIANS ON WHITE RUSSIA FRONT New Attack Near Smolensk [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 1.5.) LONDON, Dec. 2. Viciiy radio says: Russian forces have gained more ground in a triple drive against Mohilev, Jlobin ana Mosir. . A new Russian offensive has started in the direction of Orsha, west of Smolensk. The Red Army is attackI ing with a heavy concentration of ' artillery, tanks and infantry. Attacking forces broke through the first German defence line at two points, but, after meeting the second line defences, the Russians were forced to yield some ground. The Russians have large reserves in this sector, so i that fighting is likely to continue, i. The German News Agency stated: 1 Soviet pressure continues unabated west and north of Gomel, and at manv points German forces have retreated to shorter lines. Battle of Jlobin V RUSSIAN OUTFLANKING MOVE. LONDON, Dec. 1. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: General Von Kluge, the Ger. man Commander' of me White Hussion Front, has thrown troops across the Dnieper in a big effort to save Jlobin, the southern buttress of the White Russia line. Russian forces are approaching Jlobin and Bobruisk in a big outflanking movement which additionally holds out a prospect of opening a' gap in the rear of the German White Russian line as far as Vitebsk. (Russian salients have driven beyond the Nexa at the northern extremity of the White Russia Front, and already overhang the Germans' northern flank at Vitebsk fortress. With the upper and lower buttresses menaced the German line faces a frontal punch from Russian forces approaching Mohiliev from Propoisk. The Germans to day launched la counter-attacks before Jlobin. this was an effort to strengthen thenprotective bridgehead on the east bank of the Dnieper. Fighting is at present going on on the approaches of various roads, centring on the important Dovsk Road junction. lhe loss of the Junction would make it. impossible for the Germans to manoeuvre troops since main roads are knee-deep in mud. Germans south or Jlobin, on the west bank of the Dnieper, launched five counter-at-tacks to hold off General Rokossovsky's central column, which is less than seven miles from Jlobin. A Russian wedge between the south White Russian Front and the Germans in the Kiev salient was driven in deeper as the result of the Russian Pripet Valley advance. These Russian forces have now reached a point 10 miles trom Mosir, the kev to road communications m the last Pripet area. OPERATIONS BELOW KIEV. GERMAN RETREATT (Rec. 1.5.) LONDON, Dec. 2. The German News Agency s min* tary commentator admits that southwest of Dnenrotovsk and north-east of Krivoirog, the Germans have shortened and improved their deteaS ' V Reuter’’s Moscow correspondent stated: German forces southwest ol Kremenchug, as a result of a heavy defeat in a big tank battle, are falling back towards Snamenka, where their main armoured units are apparently concentrated After smashing a large German tank unit, and capturing Bolshayawarickha, Russian forces advanced within eight miles of Snamenka. Russian forces are also nearing Cherkasy. Hard fighting is going on before the town. Moscow radio stated the Russians in the Cherkasv area after overcoming heavy resistance, established new bridgeheads across the Dnieper, and also enlarged the existing bridgeheads. The Germans are retreating towards Snamenka. their chief communications centre for the Dme per bend. The Russians have reached points less than eight miles northpast of Snamenka, and other Russian forces are 15 miles away to the east. A Moscow press correspondent stated: A break m the weather south-west, of Dnepropetrovsk led to a resumption of hostilities on a large scale, both land and air The re sumotion of operations following the wettest autumn for many years is putting an enormous strain on human and material endurance, on both sides. The renewed activity heralds a beginning of a new phase in the struggle Thousands of Russians and Germans are undergoing a physical trial comparable only to the autumn battles at. Leningrad two years ago, when von Loeb d r ove his troops to mass hvsteria. In one sector the r-orm? n s counter-attacked sixteen times in an effort tn regain a commanding height. The battle lasted 72 imurs, nut the Russians held the nosTions. O n the rest, of the Dnieper front including the extreme south of Ukra ! ne, rain and fog are impeding activity.