NEW RUSSIAN ATTACKS

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1943, Page 5

NEW RUSSIAN ATTACKS

NORTH AND CENTRE Enemy Nearer to Kiev HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES AT CHERKASY. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 12.5.) LONDON, Dec. 15. A Russian supplementary communique says: “Six thousand Germans were killed in 'the fighting for Cherkasy. The enemy converted all of the town’s stone houses into fortified firing points. He also threw in an uninterrupted stream of air-borne Tommy-gunners and other reinforcements. The battle raged In every street. Large booty was captured; also a considerable number of prisoners. Northern Front NEW RUSSIAN ATTACK. LONDON, Dec. 14. Berlin radio said that a hew Red Army, offensive, with six infantry divisions and two tank corps was launched on the south Neval front on Monday. The radio added that the German positions on the eastern wing of the front had to be temporarily evacuated under pressure of a violent Russian artillery barrage. NEVAL FIGHTING CONTINUES. (Rec. 12.10..) LONDON, Dec. 15. Vichy radio quoted Berlin reports that the Russian mass attacks in the Neval-Polotsk sector have thusfar been repulsed, but violent tank battles are still progressing. , A report received in Stockholm says: It is believed in Berlin that a Russian offensive at Neval presages a tremendous winter offensive on thd. northern front, between Leningral and Neval, where the Russians will attempt to drive a wedge to the Baltic Sea. Russian Advance TOWARDS KIROVGRAD. LONDON, Dec. 14. Russian occupation of Cherkasy was announced by Moscow radio, when an order of the day from ivi. Stalin to General Koven was broadcast as follows: “Troops on the second Ukrainian front continuing the successful offensive, to-day, as the result of strenuous fighting, occupied Cherkasy, a large economic centre in the Ukraine and an important centre of the German defence on the right bank of the Dnieper. Moscow radio also stated: 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. Tuesday] night’s Soviet communique stated: The ited Army west of Kremenchug continued the offensive and occupied a number of inhabited places, including Shava'lniki. Borovitsa, Pogoreltsy, and in the Kirovgrad sector occupied several inhabited places. , Reuter’s Moscow correspondent bays: The German position inSouth Russia is deteriorating. The Red Army has been supplemented by forces released from Cherkasy, and battle is surging towards Kirovgrad, one spearhead being 14 miles north of the town. The Russians are ashelmbling gjyeat concentrations of artillery and heavy 1 tanks to smasn the enemy’s defences at Kirovgrad, which is likely soon to fall. - The whole situation in the Dnieper Bend looks highly unpromising for the eneTny in the [immediate future. General Von Mannstein is faced with three distinct Russian thrusts. He informed each local commander that he must rely on his own resources. The Russians captured a German order in which Von Mannstein stated- “I cannot promise speedy reinforcements.” The change in the fortunes in the Kiev Bulge prevents the German Command switching mobile panzers to help the three sectors in the Dnieper Bend which are under threat of isolation from Russian spearheads—Cherkasy, Kirovgrad, and Krivoi Rog. The British. United Press Moscow correspondent reports: Russian heavy guns are shelling German strong points on outskirts of Kirovgrad from newly-won high ground 10 miles north of the city. Three Russian columns are closing on the city. “Red Star” says: The Russians in the past 24 hours dislodged the enemy from several more inhabited places on the Kirovgrad front. ’ A correspondent reports: With the fall of Cherkasy, the Red Army can use heavier pressure than ever over the 150-mile front, from Cherkasy to Nikopol, endangering the whole German position in the Dnieper Bend. The evacuation of Cherkasy is a very severe secoack for tne Germans. They had been clinging to this important position—their only substantial foothold on the Dnieper River for 700 miles—in the hope of staging a' counter-offensive, but the pressure of the Russian advance was too much for them. The fall ox Cherkasy Will release a fresh flood of Russian forces against the Germans remaining in the Dnieper Bena. The Russians threaten to drive a wedge between the German forces in the Dnieper Bend and the iordes bn the Kiev front. The Russian outflanking move against Kirovgrad made further progress yesterday> The Germans now admit that the Russians are operating southwest of the city. The Moscow correspondent of tne British United Press says: A decrease in the strength, of German attacks undoubtedly results from terrific enemy losses since the counter drive was launched on November 11. The Germans are now describing Russian attacks as “powerful.” A notable feature of ' the fighting is the improvement in flying conditions, and iSoviet fighters are giving excellent cover and support to the ground troops: A correspondent says that the Soviet Air Force has always shown up well on this front whenever the weather has been suitable. GERMAN RESISTANCE. BEFORE KIROVGRAD. LONDON, Dec. 14. The Germans are fighting strongly at the approaches to Kirovgrad, in the Dnieper Bend. Moscow “Red Star” stated: On the Kirovgrad front the Russians are meeting stubborn enemy resistance. The Germans are launching repeated counter-attacks. All have been rebelled with heavy losses. To-day’/s German communique says: The evacuation of Cherkasy, which had been completely destroyed, for a‘ long time past, was carried out. in full order, without the loss of men or material. The ruins of the town were completely mined. RUSSIANS LINK UP ON MIDDLE DNIEPER. (Rec. 12.5.) : LONDON, Dec. 15. Reuter’s correspondent says: Germin forces on the. Middle Dnieper are facing a new crisis, Rus-

sian forces, driving up from Kremenchug are now only twenty miles from the Soviet troops who overwhelmed the German garrison at Cherkasy. When linked up, these two armies will have a huge bridgehead most favourably placed for a renewed thrust south-westwards. New German Onslaught IN BATTLE FOR KIEV. RUSSIANS LOSE RADOMYSL. LONDON, Dec. 14. A Soviet communique stated: The Russian forces south-west of Malin repelled infantry and tank attacks, inflicting) lolsses. A correspondent at Moscow reports ;■ For the second day running the Russians more than held their own in the battle; of .the Kiev Bulge. All day' oh . Monday they were counter-attacking . hard, in the' Malin sector, 70 milesimdhth-west-'. of Kiev, and again, improved their/ positions. The battle is still hard,, but for four days, the ’ enemyjs county er-offensive has been halted -;afid r hih: tanks and have been fqrceSt to give ground. * ‘ ... x ■■)?[ “The Times” Moscow ■ ent. stated: While battle, as a result of Russian artillery has - been-jgradUSsw going in. the premature to assuffie?;?fh<fedanon3 is wholly averted;'.the past 24'(hoursgather sufficient strength' -for of counter-attacks,. 'lout; A/', on a smaller scale rower front. . - ENEMY AT LONDON, It is officially cow that, the Russffihs< < ed Radomysl, 27 of Jitomir. Earlier it'wqh'. German vanguards?; had.?i*ha£spl the River Teterev, on '^hiefi.>Rwftja.iysl is located. Radomysl,.is aboitt?i<JG* miles west of Kiev, andj;^ ; of Malin. General tank commander in Kiev called in fresh reserves, ttfsattack on the Teterev River. (Rec. 12.5.) 15. Reuter’s Moscow says: The German.forcein the Kiev battle, after their-.capture of Radomysl are launching heXv onslaughts around the Jitomir .highway. Both “sides have brought up reinforcements. The are; striving desperately to overcome Russian stonewalling tactics. i

Berlin military reports are quoted by Vichy radio, stating that large Russian tank anffi infantry concentrations were observed on Tuesday on the eastern bank of the Teterev River between Jitomir- and. Kiev, with a verv large pumber of guns and sixbarrelled mortars ranged to a great denth behind the massed troops and tanks. The Russians are expected soon to launch a drive to counter Von Manstein’s successful operations.