MOSIR CUT OFF

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1944, Page 5

MOSIR CUT OFF

RUSSIAN PUSH Further Into Poland [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] LONDON. Jan. 13. A Soviet communique on Thursday night stated: Troops of theWhite Russian front, under General Rokossovsky developed the offensive and occupied more than forty inhabited places, including Dudichi, 10 miles north of Mosir. Russians closely .approached the regional centre of White Russia, Mosir and the large rail junction KlenkovicM. Russians west and south-west of Sarny captured several localities and a number of railway stations including Tutovichi, ten miles west of Sarny; also west and south-west of VorogradVolynsk, and captured over sixty places, including Korets, forty miles east of Rovno; also the railway station at Maidanvila, thirteen miles north-east of Shepetovka. The Red Army west and south-west of Berdichev fought offensive battles and occupied several localities and east of Vinnitsa, it repelling strong coun-ter-attacks.

The Russians’ new drive in the Mosir region is the fifth offensive in seven weeks, and as far as can be judged, is aimed along the northern side of the Pripet Marshes. One place reported captured is Domanovichi, on the railway about 20 miles north of Mosir. Russian positions tend to outflank both Mosir itself and Kalinkovochi, an important railway junction, where the lines north, south, and east and west intersect. Three branches of these lines are now held by the Russians, the fourth goes westward to Pinsk, and Brest Litovsk. It is too early to assess the weight behind the .Russian attack in this region, but if the Russians make further substantial advance, they will have an advantage. In the north in their deep thrust to Sarny, that flank will be covered to some extent by the Pripet Marshes. For a month past, armies north of the Marshes have been bogged down. The new offensive suggests the ground is now frozen hard enough to make possible large-scale movements of armour and guns. Soviet forces have now reached the fronter established after the Russians marched into Poland in 1939. The Moscow radio announced that the Russians had reached the Polish River Bug at a point 115 miles west of the old frontier. The Bug here forms the line of the new 1939 frontier. 1 , Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that the Germans are retreating in disorder west of Sarny, with the Russians pressing on towards Kowel. The Russians have reached points within 40 miles south-east oi Pinsk. The Red Army’s tactical skill is likely to result in the formation of outflanking movements against six major German-held Russian towns, says the “Red Star.” The Red Army has already badly outflanked Vinnitsa from the south-east, Shepetovka from the north and south, and Rovno from the north-west. 106 Russians are also moving into 'positions from which outflanking strokes can be dealt in the direction of Bobruisk, Kowel and Pinsk. The Associated Press Moscow correspondent stated: With enemy sources admitting to-day that strong Red Army columns are still pouring into Poland, advanced Russian units are already moving on to firm ground beyond the fringe of the Pinsk Marshes, west of Sarny, and with the guerrillas’ aid are continuing to sweep through the Rovno forests. A grim struggle is going on over the bleak, marshy terrain north of Sarny. The Germans, hampered by poor communications and dnnculty in exploiting their panzers, aie being pushed back into the guer-rilla-ridden Pripet Marshes The Scandinavian telegraph Bureau states that lhe Red Armv today penetrated the German positions west of Mosir and breached the town’s defences at several points. (The Red Army operating west of Mosir means that the town has been outflanked). „ 'The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the _ Ukrainian guerrillas -co-operating with Vatutin’s men were largely responsible for the capture of Sarny. The Country between Olevsk and Rovno is among the wildest anywhere in Europe, being composed of great forests interspersed with almost roadless swamps—ideal for Sueirilla operations. When Vatutin burst across the Polish border guerrillas were massed in the Rovno forests until two long columns of German infantry and tanks rolled eastwards with the object of reinforcing the garrison at Sarny. The guerrillas ambushed the enemy columns and launched a full-scale attack. The guerrillas pinned down the Germans in one of the heaviest battles the guerrillas have ever fought The Germans tried to but th* guerrillas clung to them until lar Red Army units arrived. The enemy columns were wiped, out ano the 'aid the S,arny. garrison was awaiting never arrived. „ The Stockholm “Dagens Nyheter s Berlin correspondent says that military circles in Berlin admit that the Russians have smashed through the German lines in the Vitebsk aiea ano are now fighting in the German rear, attacking with 26 divisions noith and south of Vitebsk. In the Dnieper Bend, the Russians are held up for the present b.v tne buttress of Smyela and Krovoi Rog. on either side of their Kirovograd offensive. Good progress, however, is being made on both sides north o* the Pripet Marshes, where the Russian drive on Pinsk threatens tne south end of the White Russian front via Gomel.

Mosir Doomed HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES NEAR VINNITSA RUSSIAN DRIVE TOWARDS ODESSA RAILWAY (Rec. 1.10) "LONDON, Jan. 14. Fighting on the eastern front Jias reached its highest pitch since rhe opening of the war between Germany and Russia, according to the German Overseas News Agency. It added that there was no doubt the enemy was throwing his entire reserves into battle. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports: Mosir is completely encircled. Russian guns are already straddling the last roads westwards from the town. German chances of bringing up reinforcements are rapidly vanishing. Moscow radio says: The Red Army west and south-west of Sarny, after throwing back the enemy, is successfully forging ahead. The Germans have thrown fresh troops info battle, straight from the march. They are rushing reserves to the front from other sectors'. Moscow "Red Star” states: Fierce engagements are going on east of Vinnitsa, where Russian forces are driving to the Odessa railway. Violent German counter-attacks tthere were repelled. Large German tank and infantry forces tried to cut the Russian troops in two by an outflanking movement, but Soviet artillery and Stormoviks destroyed and disabled half the enemy force. Roads of the Red Army’s advance on the front over many hundred v miles are strewn with smashed and mauled German equipment and thousands of German bodies. The Moscow correspondent of the

British United Press says: Germans are fleeing in disorder along both banks of the Pripet River, after Russian forces blasted ,a wide gap in fortifications, between Mosir and Kolenkovichi. Russian cavalry is m filtrating deep in the German rear, hacking the enemy down with sabres, and. massacring them in large numbers. Russian ski battalions also penetrated the German rear, finishing off other German units. Russian armoured forces have begun storming the main part of Mosir itself. The fall of the city is regarded m Moscow as a foregone conclusion. A Russian supplementary communique states: The enemy has converted the whole area between Mosir and Kolenkovichi into a powerful defensive line. It is studded with artillery, mortars and machine-guns. Russian forces are having to fight hard Io break the enemy’s resistance. More thhn two thousand Germans were killed 'yesterday in fightin v east of Vinnitsa, which is assuming a most violent character. Some localities changed hands several times. The enemy- suffered heavy losses, without achieving any success. , x , -u Reuter’s correspondent describes the savage fighting east of Vinnista as a’ battle of guns versus tanks. Von Mannstein mustered all his available tanks in a determined effort to halt the Russians, but Vatutin assembled powerful concentrations of artillery, which won the final battle of/ the Kiev Bulge at Jitomir. > German counter-moves east off Vinnitsa are described in Moscow, messages as so far on. a local scajle. In one narrow sub-sector, the Germans concentrated hundreds of tanks/ and large forces of infantry in a/nightlong battle to break through/. The tanks inflicted ’heavy losse -A ut were unable to prevent loc/al Rains. This is clearly the most/important part of the front, wheiy- the Gelmans announced their determination to make a stand along fine upper Bug to protect the vital railway behind it. The Germans are sj/fil making frenzied counter-attack/ east of Vinnitsa, but are being- forcjed back more and more northwards, / wheie Vatutins men are only thirteen miles northeast of Shepetovlfa -which is the main gateway to I South Poland.