CHERKASY TAKEN

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1943, Page 5

CHERKASY TAKEN

BY RUSSIANS NEW ENEMY ATTACKS On Kiev Salient ENEMY'S ATTACK WEAKENS. "LONDON, Dec. 13. A Soviet communique stated that the Red Army in the Kirovgrad sector continued an offensive and captured several inhabited places, and west of Kremenchug overcame enemy) resistance and captured live heavily fortified strongpoints, including Adamovka, Vdovin ana Khuto. Ankara radio reported that Russian forces had occupied Cherkasy. Von Hammer, the German News Agency’s military commentator stated that a Russian tank group, with infantry mounted on tanKS, penetrated German lines in the Dnieper Bend. There was extremely bitter lighting all day on Sunday northwest of Krivoi Rog, west of Kremenchug, and in the Cherkasy area. He added that the Dnieper Bend is the scene of the Russians’ greatest operations. The Red Army reached points south-west of Kirovgrad. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated this means Kirovgrad 25 miles south-west of Snamenka has been outflanked. Russian forces in a steady drive towards Kirovgrad cleaned' up German knots of resistance south-east, east, and north of the city. Moscow correspondents say that Red Army mobile units are pouring EVACUATION OF CHERKASY ON MONDAY NIGHT (Rec. 11.30.) LONDON. Dec. 14. Paris radio stated: The situation has been confused in the entire region between Cherkasy and~Chigirm. Violent fighting has been going on in Cherkasy. > A Berlin spokesman admitted that the Russians at the week-end penetrated the outskirts of Cherkasy. where Germans stubbornly resisted further Russian progress towards trital points inside and round the town. (Rec. 12.15) LONDON, Dec. 14. The Berlin radio announced that the Germans evacuated Cherkasy on Monday night. RUSSIAN ADVANCE. ON KIROVGRAD. (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 14. Moscow radio states: A Russian advance in the direction of Kirovgrad gained considerable ground in the past twenty-four hours. Outflanking of enemy strong points by Russian tanks is a feature. in the fighting. Moscow “Red Star” reports: A serious breakdown occurred in the German Intelligence Service in the Dnieper Bend. The Russians in capturing Chigrin cut an important road leading to the town from the southwest by a sudden thrust without the German Command knowing anything about it. German reinforcements and supplies continued for a considerable time to move along this road, only to be wiped out or captured. , ,

on west from Nihigirin, supported by hedge-hopping Stormoviks, . which are operating effectively inside a corridor formed by the Tasnin and Dnieper to keep the Germans on the move and prevent construction of a new defence line. Winter Offensive RUSSIAN PLANS. LONDON, Dec. 13. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says that a huge Russian winter offensive on at least four points is expected soon to be launched as a result of the German failure to break through west of Kiev. The four points are:-— (1) Between the Pripet and Bersina Rivers; (2) Between Znlobin and Orsha; (3) A naval front; and (4) In Krivoi Rog and Nikopol sectors. The weather from the Kiev sector northwards is now sufficiently cold for real winter operations, at which the Russians are masters. Even the Kiev sector is practically cold enough for specialised rations, while the hardened ground is enabling the Red Air Force to resume full-scale attacks.

The German Plan

TO HOLD DNIEPER AND CRIMEA.

(Rec. 12.40.1 LONDON, Dec. 14. The Stockholm correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency states: According to Berlin correspondents. the German High Command intends to hold the Dnieper line and the Crimea, and to use more reserves to stabilise the situation. The correspondents state that a German assault against Russian positions east of Teterev is considered to be imminent. The two Soviet offensives from Kremenchug are recognised as strong, but they are not considered as disquieting. A Soviet communique stated. Russian forces south of Malin continued to fight engagements, against Tanks and infantry, ■and improveu then P After nearly a' month of u hous battles for the salient west of Kiev, German tanks and infantry have been dislodged from a number or places they had recaptured at tremendous cost. + Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated: German dead are lying thickly at the approaches of the new-ly-captured Soviet positions aftei’ a series of furious Soviet counter-at-tacks west of Kiev. Battle is raging across open country and outskirts oi forests. Duels between tanks and artillery are giving way to fierce- infantry clashes in a number of sectors. Russians are increasing pressure against battered villages and strong points which have changed hands several times. • ! Reuter’s military writer says: Tne Germans appear to have shot their, bolt in the counter-offensive on the Kiev salient. Russian reinforcements which have reached Marshal Vatutin are slowly but surely gaming ground. If they decisively defeat Von Hoth’s 4th Panzer Army the fate of the Dnieper Bend is sealed.

A despatch to the British Broa'dcasting Corporation from Moscow suggests that the German initiative iias weakening force behind it. The United Press Moscow correspondent stated: The Germans intended in launching a massive counter-attack west of Kiev to force the Russians to draw off forces from the neighbouring fronts, thereby delaying the Red Army’s winter offensive, but the Russians again hold the initiative in the Kiev Bulge, obviating ary disruption of the Russian High Command’s future plans in other sectors.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated - The next 24 hours should show whether General Von Mannstein can mobilise more reserves for a continuance of the counter-offen-sive against the Kiev salient or whether the whole of the assault is going to peter out, leaving decimated German divisions to face a powerful

Red Army counter-drive. The Germans had big Losses in the latest battles. The number of tanks in action in the past few days significantly declined. The panzer push for the time being appears to have reached exhaustion or the limit of the widest margin of losses the enemy dare afford. General Von Mannstein is threatened with complete failure unless able to renew the assault with more powerful forces. The Germans are still trying to break through in the Malin sector, about 70 miles north-west of Kiev, and there may be further set-backs before the Russians finally get the upper hand. NEW GERMAN ATTACK BEGUI)J. (Rec. 12.40.) LONDON. Dec. 14. Paris radio claims that German vanguards have reached, and that some have crossed the Teterev River. FRESH GERMAN TANKS ATTACK SOUTH OF MALIN •LONDON, Dec. 14. Vichy radio reports: Powerful Russian counter-attacks in the Kiev Bulge succeeded in putting a brake on German tank forces at several points. Vichy radio adds: General Hoth, the German tank commander in the area west of Kiev, has called in fresh reserves. He is attacking in the direction of the road from Malin to Radomysl, twenty miles southwards.