LIKE AN AVALANCHE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 January 1944, Page 2

LIKE AN AVALANCHE

VATOUTIN’S ADVANCE IN POLAND RED ARMY FULLY ESTABLISHED GERMANS ADMIT REVERSES (Rec. 1.50 p.m.) London, Jan. 7. The Red Army has bitten in deeply and. fully established its position in Poland. Marshal Vatoutin’s forces along an 80-mile front from a point beyond Rokitno to Polonnoye, 50 miles no. th-west of Berdichev, are accelerating the advance towards the Polish Ukraine and closing in on Sarny and Rovno. The Moscow correspondent of the United Press of Great Britain declares that the whole German frontier defences as far south-westwards as Ost rog, nearly 80 miles from the original Russian break-through west of Olevsk, are crumbling under the Russian clows, and adds that there is l’ttle doubt that Marshal Vatoutin is approaching tne stage in the campaign where he hopes to deliver decisive strategic blows. Reuter’s correspondent says that according to a frontline report Marshal Vatoutin’s army is advancing like an avalanche. The spearhead, which has captured Rokitno, is now approaching Sarny. The speed and power of the Russian advance is bringing increasing disorder in the ranks of General von Mannstein’s defeated army. The Germans are retreating hurriedly towards Shepetovka. Some German divisional staffs are changing the position of their headquarters twice daily while units are becoming isolated and out of touch with those which are supposed to be supporting their flanks. A German military spokesman said the German and Russian armies were poised for decisive battles. “It is undeniable that the German armies are experiencing a serious strain. We make no attempt to disguise the fact that we have suffered reverses in these gigantic winter battles,” he added.