STANISLAWOW BATTLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 121, 20 April 1944, Page 2

STANISLAWOW BATTLE

FIERCE STRUGGLE. RAGES. (N.Z. Press Association.— Copyright.) (Rec 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 19. To-night's Soviet communique -says the Russians east and south of Stanislawow. are. engaged in a fierce battle and are repelling ■ attacks by large forces of enemy infantry and tanks. The Berlin radio's commentator (Hallensleben) said that a new storm may soon break in a different part of the Eastern Front. Both sides arc obviously regrouping their forces. The capture of Nadownra, between the Carpathians and Stanislawow, claimed in a Berlin communique to-day, indicates that the German High Command has thrown considerable forces into the action before the Carpathians. The Germans are simultaneously moving against Tarnopol, where some units have already reached the outskirts of the town, added Hallensleben. German reconnaissance lias observed a Russian concentration odiously preparing to attempt a break-through on the northern fl.ank of the southern front. Reuter says the Germans in counterattacks east of Stanislawow arc evidently taking von Mannstein's usual pattern—a bid to strike through from the flank and cut off the Russian spearheads. Von Mannstein seems to be prepared to sacrifice tanks and infantry on a considerable scale.

The Moscow communique adds that tho Russians in the Kishinev sector continued fighting for (he widening of their bridgeheads on' the right bank of the Dniester and improved their positions. The Russians in the Sebastopol sector continued their offensive and expelled the enemy from several heavily fortified strong-points. The Germans within Sebastopol lack the principal advantage which tho Russians possessed during their 150 days' siege-long-range guns embedded in massive concrete foundations, which (he Red Army destroyed before leaving (ho forlress and which the Germans are unable to replace. The Mayor of Odessa has slated that 25 per cent, of the buildings have been blasted in the city and only 280.000 of the total population of 737.000" remain. More than half of the population was evacuated to (Central Asia and (he rest were killed or driven off by the Germans and Rumanians.