Moscow Guns Thunder New Salute

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1944, Page 3

Moscow Guns Thunder New Salute

(8.0. W., 1 p.m.) RUGBY, March 16,

Moscow gufts thundered another salute tonight. An order of the day issued by Marshal Stalin and ad- ■ dressed to Marshal Koniev says: “Troops of the second Ukrainian front, developing the offensive yesterday as a result of a violent attack by tank formations and infantry, occupied the large railway junction and town of Wapnyarka, thus cutting the most important railway line from Jmerinka to Odessa.” Reuter points out that the Odessa-Wapnyarka-Jmcrinka railway already had been cut above Proskurov. but the capture of Wapnyarka means that German traffic from Odessa to Poland and northwards must now be diverted into Rumania at Slobodka junction. Slobodka is 50 miles down the JmerinkaOdessa railway below Wapnyarku, and is already gravely threatened by the Russian break-through across the Bug. General Koniev’s spearheads were last reported 20 miles from Slobodka. Threat to Dniester

The British United Press Moscow . correspondent declares that the Rus- > si an break-through across the Bug • yesterday has prevented the Germans from making a major stand before "hey ! reach the Dniester. This wholesale . break-through has sealed the fate of Vinnitsa and will enable the Russians , to switch southwards and sweep down ■ against Odessa. The Red Army, maintaining the speed of the pursuit, is not allowing the enemy to reform. The Germans along the whole Ukraine line are frantically pulling out units and rushing them back to what they hope will prove to be better'positions for defence. The break-through over the Bug was a classic operation. The Right Choice General Koniev had the choice to wipe out German forces resisting on the east bank or to thrust across the river directly he found an opening. General Koniev chose the latter and swept across the river, formed a screen from mobile units and held off the Germans while the main body of troops crossed. The Germans, at only one point, are fighting back with the apparent intention of holding ground—that is in the Proslcurov-Tarnopol sector, where they are still rushing up reinforcements of men, tanks and guns in an effort to beat back General Zhukov's inexorable advance. Greatest Chase of War General Koniev’s forces, in the greatest chase of the Russian war, through a great gap torn in von Manstein’s Bug River defence line, are hacking their way towards the Dniester at a rate pf 15 to 20 miles daily, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The Germans are retreating headlong and many groups have degenerated info a fleeing rabble, scrambling for safety behind the Dniester. The Moscow correspondent of the “Exchange Telegraph’’ says that the Germans lost so much in the Uman battle they have been unable to recover. Tank crews of some of Germany’s best panzer divisions, including the 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th and Adolf Hitler divisions, who abandoned tanks on the east bank of the Bug', are among the fugitives. Ukrainian peasants told the Russians: “We hardly recognised them as soldiers. They were a ragged, unwashed mob. Many were without coats and caps and a few were wearing only underclothes. Many were riding two on a horse, others on crowded carts. Some trailed rifles but many had no arms of any kind. They were all as hungry ns wolves. They broke into our houses for food." The Germans today made a very frank statement on the plight of the Nazi army in Southern Russia. Berlin news agency, quoting a German High Command spokesman, said: "Our men no longer are fighting for towns and villages; they are fighting for time which the High Command needs to make its counter-measures effective. Every day gained is vital. Time gained , might enable us to erect barriers at a really decisive point.” 10 Miles From Naval Base The Russian drive south of Uman is aimed at Pervomaisk, 100 miles north of Odessa, says Reuter’s Moscow correspon- 1 dent. The Red Army is averaging a steady 10 miles daily through a sea of mud and water. A Russian column advancing against Nikolayev is now 10 miles from the town. Another group, pushing along the northern shores of the Dnieper estuary, has only a few miles to go to reach the eastern shore of the Bug estuary. Describing how Russian tanks crossed the Bug, “Red’ Star” says that General Koniev massed infantry, tanks and guns on the east bank and constant fire was ; opened against the Germans on the other side. Special Russian units, during dark- : ness, crossed the Bug, formed bridgeheads '• and widened them right and left as other troops crossed and pursued the retreating Germans. Moscow radio reports that 450 German J planes were shot down in the Narva area ■ in the second week of March. Trapped Forces Liquidated ! The Germans entrapped in Snegirovka i area have been wiped out. Tonight's i Russian communique says: "Russians in : the area of Snegirovka and Bereznegovati completely liquidated remnants of a surrounded group, taking considerable booty ; and many prisoners.” '< The' communique also reports that the i Russians in Proskurov sector repelled 1 tank and infantry attacks, inflicting J heavy losses. ( The Russians in Vinnitsa sector con- < tinued the offensive and captured the 1 district centres of Nemirov, 25 miles < south-east of Vinnitsa, and Ayvrnv. 16 miles south of Vinnitsa across the Bug 1 River, besides over 40 inhabited places, i Troops on the Ukrainian front captured 1 Wapnyarka and also occupied Tulchin, besides 30 inhabited places. 1 The Russians in Nikolayev sector con- ( tinued the offensive and captured Nova- 1 Odessa and 40 inhabited places, including the rail stations of Lotkino and Greigowo. 1 Reuter points out that capture of Nova- < dessa means that the Rod Army has i smashed thrugh. the south sector of the < Bug River.