8000 ENEMY DEAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 2

8000 ENEMY DEAD

FIVE GERMAN DIVISIONS ROUTED REFUSED TO LAY DOWN ARMS RUSSIANS REACH SARNY (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) London, Jan. 10. “Because the Germans refused to lay down their arms w annihilated the greater part and routed and encircled the remains of three tank, one motorised and one infantry divisions, north of Kirovograd,” states a Soviet communique. “Only insignificant dispersed groups succeeded in escaping. The Russians in this area captured 90 tanks, 114 guns, 124 mortars and other booty. The Germans left 8000 dead on the battlefield.”

The German overseas news agency stated that Russian units have reached Sarny. The news agency also reported that Russian landing-boats on Saturday attempted a landing on the Black Sea coast at Pervomaysk, west of Ochokov, which is 40 miles east of Odessa. The news agency claimed that the attempt was frustrated.

Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorius, declared that the character of the great battle on the south Russian front remains unchanged. “Sometimes we have to abandon ground in order to save our forces and prevent them being cut off. The fighting east of Sarny and east of Rovno is at present static. Enemy pressure here has not increased in the past few days. This leads one to suppose that Marshal Vatoutin has transferred strong forces southwards. German units are still holding out in the western suburbs of Kirovograd. They could not, however, prevent General Koniev switching part of his forces in a south-westerly direction to threaten the German positions at Krivoi Rog and fresh Russian attacks at Ryechitso. The Russians succeeded in making minor breaches.” He adds that extremely heavy fighting has developed at Voronovitsa, 15 miles south-east of Vinnitsa. The Russians here succeeded in advancing in a south-westerly direction ODESSA-WARSAW RAILWAY THREATENED The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” sayc the Russians have reached a village 45 miles due east of the vital railway junction of Jmerinka and 30 miles from the Odessa-Warsaw trunk railway. To-night’s Soviet communique says troops of the First Ukrainian front, continuing the offensive, captured two district centres in the Rovno region, two district centres in the Vinnitsa region, one district centre in the Kiev region, besides 60 inhabited localities. The Red Army cut the railway between Smyela and Khristfnovka. The Russians north-west and north of Kirovograd took the offensive and captured Kamenka, a district centra, and over 50 inhabited localities.