RUSSIANS STORM SARNY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 38, 13 January 1944, Page 5

RUSSIANS STORM SARNY

IMPORTANT JUNCTION FALLS

GREAT OFFENSIVE EXTENDS

LONDON, Jan. 12

In Russia the Eed Army's offensives are assuming bigger proportions every day and have now become one general offensive from north-west of Kiev down to the gates of -the Crimea.

Marshal Stalin in an Order of the Day to General Vatutin made known the capture of Saray, the first important town inside the old Polish border. The Order says that the troops of the First Ukrainian Front crossed the River Sluch yesterday and took Sarny by storm. unique reports a new offensive 11 the direction of MozyT, to--3 drive, which has penetrated el a depth of eight miles.

To-night's Moscow comm north of the Pripet Marshes i ■wards the Polish border. Th an 18-mile front, has reache

On the southern flank of the Kiev salient fierce fighting is taking place in the direction of the Bug River. After three weeks of fighting the Germans have called a halt and arc making a determined stand, with a heavy concentration of armour. The main conflict is north-east of the Jmcrinka junction, but it is also hard north-west of that town. The German radio admits that their lines are being heavily attacked and that they are in clanger in the south. The sneakers give the impression that the German armies are being attacked by an unstoppable lore*, and refer to their position in the Crimea, Dnieper Loop, and Kirovgrad areas. They also state that the Russians have advanced farther towards the Rumanian border. According to the Official Wireless, the Soviet air force, the Baltic navy, and shore artillery are strafing the enemy batteries which are shelling the residential districts of Leningrad, states the Moscow radio. A few clays ago Soviet Stormoviks and bombers successfully attacked two enemy long-range batteries and destroyed them. During this raid an enemv military train was machinegunned bv Soviet planes and set on fire the same day. Another Soviet air force group attacked a great enemv battery causing lame fires and hi" explosions. During the last few days long-distance artillery of the Baltic navy have attacked enemy batteries and silenced several enemy, guns.

Sarny is on the southern side of the Princt Marshes and through it run a main railway from the B.'.i'ic to Rumania., and the line from Kiev to Wartaw. The Germans have marie great use of these railways for supplying their forces in the Kiev salient and farther noiith. Sarny is 35 inile3 .inside the old Polish border.