RUSSIANS STILL ADVANCING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24676, 31 August 1943, Page 3

RUSSIANS STILL ADVANCING

PROGRESS MADE ON THREE FRONTS (Received August 30, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, August 30 The Germans in Russia have had to abandon the port of Taganrog, on the Sea of Azov. Berlin announced that the German troops moved out last night. It was claimed that this was all part of a long-prepared plan for shortening the front. It is stated in London that the Germans have been forced to fall back to avoid the threat of being cut off by the Russians moving into the Donetz Basin and Ukraine. Taganrog is one of Russia's main ports, with a peace-time ♦population of nearly 200,000. It has been in German hands since October, 1941, four months after the Germans invaded Russia. The Russians in the Kharkov area stormed the town and railway junction of Lyubotin at one end of the German line and broke through the defences over a wide front, capturing many smaller places and inflicting heavy casualties. They made a determined onslaught on this line a few miles south and south-west of Kharkov, which has been holding up their advance in this direction since they captured the city. , This break-through has successfully destroyed the intricate German defence system almost within sight of Kharkov and it opens the way for a direct offensive toward the important junction of Krasnograd on the enemy s main supply route from Kiev to the Donetz Basin. This success may have-far-reaching results on the campaign. _ , The Moscow correspondent of the British United rress reports that the Russians driving to cut the main lateral railway from Briansk to Konotop and Kiev are now within 1 5 miles of the ra "" way west of Kharkov. The Russians are also within 25 miles of the Poltava-Kiev railway. They drove forward eight miles yesterday toward the latter railway, capturing three strongly-fortified enemy centres of resistance. . South of Briansk the Russians fanned out beyond bevsk and advanced across the narrow corridor between the town and railway from Briansk to Kiev. This railway is one of the chief supply lines for the Briansk garrison and the Germans are defending it with great stubbornness. They launched eight successive counterattacks in an effort to hold up the Russian advance, but the Russians beat each one back and then, having worn down the enemy, fought their way forward from four to nine miles and captured L 4 places. South of Sevsk Soviet forces developed their offensive and occupied 1 6 places after stubborn fighting. In the Donetz Basin the Russians have increased their threat to the great communication centre of Stalino. The Red Army advancing across the Mius River captured more ground yesterday, killing 2000 Germans, destroying many tanks, guns and lorries and capturing large numbers of prisoners and great quantities ot booty.