TRAP ALMOST SET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 12 January 1944, Page 2

TRAP ALMOST SET

GERMAN FORCES IN UKRAINE ENCIRCLEMENT THREAT TWIN SOVIET THRUSTS (Rec. 12.20.) London, Jan. 11. The threat of encirclement of huge German forces in the Ukraine grows hourly, as Generals Vatoutin’s and Koniev’s armies march towards each other across the flat plains west of the Dnieper, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. It looks as if the two armies will meet on the northern fringe of Odessa province. Moscow opinion is that a trap has almost been set, and the Germans will have great difficulty in escaping, even if they are able to do so. Moscow significantly took the annihilation of five German divisions in the Ukraine, reported in yesterday’s communique, as a matter of course, whereas a year ago it would have been considered a notable event. A German statement that the Russians are in the neighbourhood of Kovell, fifteen miles west of the old Polish border, is not supported by any Russian report. Reuter says it follows the publication, through the same source, of other pessimistic statements, the motive for which has been the subject of some conjecture. Kovell is just south of the Pripet Marshes. If the . German report is true the Russian advance has been based on a thrust by an advanced Russian unit along the southern edge. This is a sparsely ponulated and thinly held area, but according to the latest Russian reports twin thrusts into Poland have reached positions five miles from Rovno. APPROACHES TO BMAN REACHED The Red Army, after crossing the vital Smyela-Khristinovka railway, reached the approaches to Uman, reports Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, who adds that although the Red Army columns are manoeuvring at great speed against Smyela and Novoukroinka, headway is being won only at the cost of tremendous effort. The battlefields lie in densely populated regions where villages almost join each other and every house is converted into a strongpoint. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says strong Red Army forces art consolidating a chain of positions east of the Berdichev-Vinnitsa railway in preparation for any attempt General von M&nnstein might make to punch at the right flank of the deep Russian salient. This appears to be the most exposed section of General Vatoutin’s front where the j. eatest vigilance is .necessary. KERCH PENINSULA BRIDGEHEADS The Russians have linked up two bridgeheads on the Kerch peninsula, according to Berlin radio, which stated: “The Red Army landed several divisions north of their own remaining bridgehead and then, despite continuous air attacks, succeeded in linking up the two units.” To-night’s Russiai commu;..., reports that Red Army forces on the Stuez river occupied the railway station of Selsk, miles north of Sarny and the railway station of Nemovichi, eight miles south of Sarny on the Rovno-Saryn Vilrfa railway. Russians south-west and south of Novograd Volynsk continued the offensive and captured Yarun. nine miles southwest of Novograd Volynsk. which is a district .entre of the Titomir region, and 30 inhabited places, including Klodonko, 15 miles south-west of Novograd Volynsk. The Red Army west and south-west of Berdichev overcame counter-attacks and captured several inhabited places, including Krasnopol. 25 miles west of Berdichev. Also, south of Byelayatserkov, they forged ahead and captured, several inhabited places.