RETREAT FROM BEND

Grey River Argus, 12 January 1944, Page 5

RETREAT FROM BEND

BEGUN BY GERMANS Must go to Rumania RUSSIAN ADVANCE IRRESISTIBLE. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] Received Midnight). NEW YORK, Jan. 11. The ’‘New York Times” London correspondent, Mr Drew Middleton, says: “Qualified military observers discount most of the reports about trapped German armies in South Russia, in which reports sensationalism appears to have overridden judgment. But there is a strong belief that the enemy is facing a disaster exceedino- that of Stalingrad or in Tunisia and indeed, one so great that it will affect the Germn resistance to British and American forces in Italy and in North-western Europe. “Amidst • the conflicting reports from Moscow and from Stockholm, military observers have established the following: “(1): The extent of General Vatutin’s thrust, south-eastward fr° m Kiev is so great that, even a determined German stand, as at Vinnitsa, cannot check a general advance. “(2): The speed of the Russian offensive is so great that the Germans are beino- forced to leave the Dnieper. Bend. Their withdrawals are not yet in full swing, but it is believed that the withdrawals have already started in the rear areas. “(3): German casualties are now estimated at 2500 killed and wounded per day, which is more than the Bru tish armies lost in the second Somme Battle in the last war. “(4),: There is no suggestion of a rout, and the enemy communications with Roumania, to which the Germans must retreat, are still ummPai'Okservers are of the opinion that the retreating Germans will lose over three hundred thousand men. Such casualties must force Hitler to move divisions from other ponfis. Thereby he will be disarranging the defence of Western Europe. ibis use of divisions from the. west jnay enable the Nazis to stabilise . their line in Poland and in Roumania for the winter, but it id extremely .questionable whether the divisions so used will be fit Tor fighting m the west in the spring.”

VATUTIN’S ADVANCE

Goes Steadily On

LONDON, Jan 14. A Soviet communique on Monday night stated: ■ Troons of the Ist Ukrainian Front, continuing the 01 fensive captured two district centres in the Rovno region, two . a‘ centres in the Vinnitsa region and one district centre in the Kiev regi n, besides 60 inhabited localities. Red Army cut the railway between Smyela and Knstmovka. The . Rus sians north-west and north pf Kirovograd took the offensive and captured famenka, a district centre, and over 50 inhabited lafcalities. Because they refused to lay down aims we annihilated the greater pait and routed encircled remains of three tank divisions and one one infantry division north of Kirovograd. Only insignificant . dispersed groups succeeded in escaping. llu Russians in this area captured 90 tanks, 114 guns 124 mortars and other booty. The Germans left 8000 dead on the battlefield. Reuter’s Moscow .correspondent stated: Russian spearheads striking southwards through the Ukraine are steadily) approaching the Ocl f saw railway the lifeline of General von Mannstein’s southern front. Die Germans, who .have recovered from last week’s confusion, are strongly resisting and carrying out powerful counter-attacks. Germans in the Smyela "funnel,” who are midway between Vatutin's and. Kornevstwin drive, are facing a threat of beiig trapped. The direction of the Russian drive in the Vinnitsa, region suggests the Russians intend to bv-pass Vinnitsa and cut the Odessa-Sarnj railway! south of Vinnitsa. Russian tanks 'and guns are now south-west of Vinnitsa. All roads fi’oni. the north-east and south-east to Vinnitsa have been severed. Russians also menace a German radway 1 nk through Tsvietkovo and Smyela. Russian forces are within 10 miles of this railway at a point north of Uman. Germans along the Dnieper at the apex of the “funnel” arc clinging to their ground with great difficulty: If General Vatutin keeps un the nresent rate of advance the Germans must attempt a fighting withdrawal. The only alternative is encirclement. .Heavy fighting is going on at the approaches to ShepetoThe" British United Press Moscow correspondent reports: German forces between Smyela and. Vinnitsa are falling back and are being harried by* Russian cavalry and patrols armed ' with tommy-guns. These “Red Devils,” as they are called, pave, the way for tanks and mortorised U Other reports say the Russians are keening up heavy thrusts into the Dnieper Bend, where a German army estimated at 500,000 is facing a choice of withdrawal or a growing risk ot encirclement. The most serious Russian threat is to the north-west of the bend, where two Russian armies are driving towards the WarsawOdessa railway. One of these armies advancing on a 40-mile front west of Zhmerinka, was at dusk yesterday less than 40 miles from the railway. The second ■ Russian army, east of Zhmerinka, was last night only 27 miles from the railway. rhe Russian armv which took Kirovograd is rapidly advancing into the heart of the Dnieper Bend and is now more than 20 miles beyond Kirovograd. The eventual aim of this advance is to cut down to the bottom of the Bend and seal off the enemy. The situation of the enemy still clinging to the west bank of the Dnieper at Kanev (about 70 miles south-west of TTiev) is even more desperate. Their onlv way of escapfe is through the rail function of Smyelo, which is menaced bv General Vatutin’s forces 15 miles away to the north and by other forces which took a place 20 miles away. “The Times’s” Moscow correspondent says that the Russians have reached a village 45 miles due east of the vital railway junction of Zhmerinka and 30 miles from the Warsaw trunk railway. ° Moscow “Pravda” stated: Russia s orders to her troops are to pursue the Germans with all types of arms Th heat them to death. All Red Armv men are now filled with one thought—ruthlessly beating and pur--3 the enemy and not giving him a moment’s respite. Our successes are great and our banners are favoure b T victory, but the Soviet peonle not given to complacency The ic still capable of fighting fStedlv for every yard of territory, £5- wp know he is reeling the ap‘'k U ns.ch e of the inevitable hour of P r ?®Hptinn for all his monstrous •retribut q. oviet people, under the K'S of » re marching to victory. They will T Jin every effort to bring nearer s£ r J * hour of triumph of their just • Infise 1 Planes, tanks guns, mprand ammunition

are pouring to the front line m a mighty endless stream. Across the 1939 Polish frontier the Russians are meeting stiffer resistance, being held a few miles from Sarny; but reports suggest it will not be long before they resume their adVein ce The Germans report a Russian landing attempt on the Black Sea' coast 40 miles east of Odessa. They claim that the attack was repulsed There was no news .of a landing from The German News Agency stated: Russian landing boats, on Saturday, attempted a landing on the Black Sea coast at Pervomaysk, west of Ochokov, which is 40 miles east ol Odessa. It claimed the attempt was frustrated. ■ GERMANS FIGHT HARDER IN DNIEPER' BEND (Rec 12.20) LONDON. Jan. 11. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent savs- The Germans are making most violent counter-attacks in the Dnieper Bend, but they are unable to hold the Russians. The German position in the Ukraine has again de6of Pogrebische (50 miles south-east of Berdichev). Ge ™™n forces are fighting like lions to check Russians tanks, which are running south in a great stream. A genera attack is expected at any moment in the Krivoirog sector. - Russian Advance 115 MILES IN POLAND.

(Rec 12.40) “LONDON, Jan. 11. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says: A Russian force has reached the neighbourhood of Kowell, eighty miles west of Sarny) representing a penetration of about 115 miles into Poland from the 1939 border. Another Russian group, thirty miles south of Sarny, is advancing against Rovno. The German-controlled Stockholm Telegraph Bureau quotes a Berlin military spokesman for this report. , , , Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent adds: Earlier military circles in Berlin admitted Russians had. captured Sarny. Heavy fighting is going on in these sectors, the outcome of which has not yet been decided, but the Russians have big reserves for a new push into Polish territory. German military spokesmen continue to make frank admissions as to German difficulties on the eastern front. On Monday night they painted a picture one shade blacker. Hitherto 'they have spoken mainly about the Red Army’s progress within Russian territory, but on. Monday night they referred to Russian advances in Poland itself.

GERMAN COMMENTS COLOSSAL RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE (Rec. 1.0) LONDON, Jan. 11 A Berlin report states real winter is beginning to prevail on the Ukranian front, and that German armies are stumbling westwards among huge snowdrifts in a temperature of tweny-one degrees below Zero. ... Vichy radio says:—German military quarters describe the Russian Winter offensive as staggeringly colossal Russian attacks which thus far had not forced any decisive breach of the German lines were now spreading to different sectors o± the front, which hitherto have been quiet. General Vatutin’s force of fifty divisions was continuing to push on units having reached the RovnoBerdichev railway at several points. Attacks against Vitebsk have entered a new stage as the Soviet comand have thrown in fresh reserves. The Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorious, declared the character of this great battle on the south Russian front remains unchanged. “Sometimes we have to abandon ground in order to save and prevent them being cut off. The fighting east of Sarny and east of Rovno is at present static. Enemy pressure here has not increased in the past few days; this leads one to suppose that General Vatutin has transferred strong forces southwards. German units, are still holding out in the western suburbs of Krivogra'd; they could not, however, prevent General Koniev switching part of his forces in a southwesterly direction to threaten the German positions at Krivoi Rog. In fresh Russian attacks at Ryechitsa the Russians succeeded in making minor breaches. Extremely heavy fighting has developed at Voronovista, 15 miles south-east of Vinnista. The Russians here have succeeded in advancing in a south-westerly direction.” Siege of f Leningrad CITY’S ORDEAL GOES ON SHELLED DAY AND NIGHT (Rec. 5.5) LONDON, Jan. 10. While a great battle is progressing in south Russia, the city of Leningrad’s ordeal still goes on. “The Times” Moscow correspondent says: German shelling of Leningrad continues day and night. There scarcely remains one building that is not scarred. , Their anxiety and sleeplessness are placing a heavy strain on the nerves of the inhabitants. Most of the main streets of Leningrad have notices up warning the people to avoid the north side of the streets, which are exposed to shellfire The cinemas, shops and houses facing 'to Ithe south have (mostly been closed. In the theatres the audiences sit in their coats, ready to leave. Before taking their seats they are instructed in what order they are to file out in the event of emergency. LONDON PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, Jan. 10. Events on the Russian front have moved so quicklv that they have given rise to the hope—as expressed by Mr J L. Garvin—that in the next ten weeks, before the thaw begins to turn Russia into an ocean of mud, every foot of Soviet territory, from the 'Baltic region to the Black Sea, is likely to be delivered from the Germans. . , A similar view is also held by the “Daily Express’s” military correspondent vzho says that the ten weeks to come before the spring thaws will ouite conceivably decide the war, though that won’t necessarily mean the end’oFthe fighting. He expresses the opinion that the failure to stage anything like a serious counterattack has made von Mannstein s position hopeless. His one concern is now to save as many men as he can from encirclement and destruction. “Liberator.” in “The Observer, refers to Russian fighting as a grim game of poker. He says that with every day of General Vatutin’s amazing advance the German strategy becomes more of a puzzle. There is no sign of an instant German withdrawal, and while Berlin military speakers hint at a complete evacuation of all Russian territory, the German High Command, with a poker face, clings to'.the Krivoi Rog and Nikopol positions. This lehves about 500,000 men in what looks like a gigantic fast-closing trap. “Liberator” adds: General Vatutin’s colossal offensive bewilders the professional mind. Its strategy .is the most unorthodox of any offensive of this war—indeed of any recorded campaign . From the Kiev base Vatutin is simultaneously advancing

to the north-west, west, south-west, and south. This continuous pressure on an ever-widening front, this continuous and flood-like expansion, is staggering and almost incredible. The concentration of striking power for such a task must have been huge beyond precedent. “The spectator rubs his eyes and wonders how long it can be possible to go on. This is what the German High Command appears to be doing. There is a grim poker game on the eastern table. Both sides daily raise their bids. The Russians go on expanding their bulge with all the increased handicaps for their offensive. This implies that the Germans will keep standing in the Dnieper Bend with all the increased perils that implies. The stakes are tremendous. Halting of an unprecedented effort for the Russians, the doom of a whole army for the Germans.” In a' week one of the most momentous military decisions may have been reached. “The Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent expresses’the opinion that the Axis are preparing to abandon the Baltic States. He adds that the Russians are reported to have resumed heavy air attacks against the Baltic ports and that the partisan warfare has become a serious nuisance to the Germans. The “Sunday Express’s” diplomatic correspondent forecasts startling results when the Russians reach the Balkans. He assumes the Russians will drive to the Balkans, even if it means slackening the push into Poland. for an invasion of Rumania would most certainly lead to its unconditional surrender and possibly that of the other. Balkan States. U.S.A. BUTTER FOR RUSSIA. NEW YORK, January 10 The United States last month sent 19,000,0001 b of butter to Russia. Another 19,000,0001 b. is held in storage for sending.