Advance Deep Into Ukraine

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1943, Page 3

Advance Deep Into Ukraine

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. August 25

Mighty Russian armies which have smashed beyond Kharkov —two northwest and south-west of Kharkov, threatening Poltava, and two pouring into the Donetz Basin from east and north, threatening Sialino—are still blasting their way through the German defence.

Moscow radio declared: “Our victorious forces are advancing into the Ukraine on a broad front. The Germans are doing their utmost to stem the drive south-west of Voroshilovgrad, but despite bitter resistance, the Red Army has thrust westward and crossed the water barrier.”

Correspondents continue particularly to emphasise the great significance of the drive towards the Donetz Basin, with its potential danger to the German forces in the whole area and also the Kuban. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that the Russians captured two important bridgeheads in the Donetz Basin, and are now streaming through gaps in the Germans’ lines west of the important German base of Stalino. The Germans are still sending reserves to threatened sectors in an attempt to seal the breaches, but the Russians beat off a big German counter-attack between Voroshilovgrad and Stalino. Outflanking Tactics

The Russians advancing against Stalino are smashing up one German strong-point after another, adds Reuter. They are fully exploiting the outflanking tactics so successful at Kharkov and Byelg'orod. Terrain which is unbroken by streams, hills and ravines, is helping the Russians. The correspondent nevertheless points out that the Germans, who have been fortifying this region for months, are will dug in with numerous protected by barbed-wire. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that a great battle for the whole Donetz Basin is developing favourably after hard initial fighting which has resulted in a breach in the German positions at Mius and a Russian push across the Donetz at Isyum the Russians are increasingly threatening two vital Donetz cities, Gorlovka and Stalino. “Red Star” says that in successful battles south-west of Voroshilovgrad, the Russians have deeply penetrated the German defences. The paper adds that the Germans in the Ukraine are suffering enormous losses in counterattacks. They have been ordered, according to prisoners’ statements, to hold positions at all, costs and guard the gates to the Donetz Basin. For Biggest Stakes

“The Russians’ southern objective is bigger than Taganrog and than the Donetz Basin.” says the Stockholm correspondent of “The Times." The southern battle is being waged for the Ukraine, westward of the Dnieper, for Donetz Basin, for the Crimea, and for the German foothold in the Caucasian mainland. One of the first clear indications that the Germans realise that the position in the Donetz Basin is growing worse will be the beginning of a withdrawal from the Kuban, which is to be expected. Reuter's Moscow correspondent says that the Russians hold the initiative on all fronts. Kharkov has proved conclusively that the Russians have learned to fight in summer as well as winter. The early thaw cheated the Russians of Kharkov when it was captured last March at the end of the great offensive in which they advanced 500 miles from Stalingrad. This time troops are fresh and roads good, supply and organisation are excellent. Responsible observers believe that Kharkov will never again fall into German hands. Against Massed Artillery

The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that the battle for Kharkov, in which the Russians forced their way to the city against massed artillery barrages, was one of the bloodiest of the war. The Germans on one sector massed 150 guns in each kilometre. The Russians brought up 200 guns for each kilometre and battered ddwn the defences by weight of metal. The Russians in the first stage of the 12-day battle, broke the defences 20 miles north of the city. The second stage was fought out 12 miles from the city centre, where the Germans attempted to hold a line covering the outskirts. When this was broken the Russians came up against the core of the defences—a tremendous concentration of artillery.

The Germans attempted to knock out Russian guns with planes, sending over 20. 40 and 60 planes simultaneously but the Russians weer irresistible. The Germans made a last major effort around tractor, plane and municipal racecourse and inside a park. While these major engagements were being fought out, fierce street battles raged throughout the city as the Russians consolidated their positions. Inhabitants emerged from hiding in foxholes and cellars. The main Russian task now is clearing up mines, a field of which has been laid on the outskirts of the city. Some buildings are completely surrounded by mines. 30 Miles from Poltava Tonight’s Soviet communique states the enem’y is everywhere suffering enormous losses in men and material. It says: “The Russians developed an offensive north-west of Kharkov and occupied over 60 inhabited localities, including Senkoy, 85 miles due west of Kharkov, also Akhtyrka, which has changed hands several times “The Red Army, south of Isyum and south-west of Voroshilovgrad, has occupied a number of inhabited localities. South-west of Voroshilovgrad the Russians are gradually i-.videning the wedge in the enemy’s defences and penetrating farther.” Where the Russians pierced German positions at Mius they have widened a breach and have now threatened to fan out northwards and westwards, says the British United Press The Russians not only are making the Germans face a very dangerous situation, but are forcing them to move available reserves from point to point. German morale on this front is reported to be very low. The correspondent says the Russians, in a great drive against Poltava, are advancing towards Slav-ansk-Poltava railway. The latest reports put the Russians 30 miles from Poltava northwards, while a second Red Army force, moving along the Kharkdv-Poltava railway, is roughly 40 miles from Poltava. Correspondents emphasise the Russians have only six weeks of good compaigning weather left.

Enemy Bled White The enemv, bled white in recent fighting, is hurriedly bringing up reserves, says a supplement to tonight’s Soviet communique, referring to Kharkov fighting. The Germans retreating from Kharkov abandoned a great quantity of arms and equipment. „ . West and south of Kharkov Soviet troops pushed ahead against large enemy forces, and 2000 members of Hitler’s army were killed in the course of the day. North-west of Kharkov one Red Army formation, overcoming enemy resistance, and repelling counter-attacks in several localities, wiped out over 600 of Hitler’s army. , , _ South-west of Voroshilovgrad, the Germans, attempting to stem the offensive launched several counte.r-attacks, all ol which were repelled with heavy loss to