RUSSIAN BLOWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24690, 16 September 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN BLOWS

MORE ADVANCES MADE FIERCENESS OF FIGHTING » LONDON, Sept. 15 West of Stalino the swift blows inflicted on the enemy in the Donbas are causing the Germans heavy losses in men and equipment. The Russians pushed forward up to 15 miles in the sector yesterday and are now at points 60 miles from Zaporozhe. They recaptured more than 150 towns and villages yesterday and killed over 2000 Germans. The Russian Army paper Red Star states the Germans are rapidly retreating toward the Dnieper bend across the Dnepropetrovsk steppe. Russians Adjacent to Niejin Fierce battles are being fought for Niejin and Priluki, keys to the distant defences of Kiev. The Russians are now within three miles of Niejin to the east, while another spearhead has bypassed the town to the north and cut the railway linking it with Chernigov and Gomel. Stiff German resistance round Romny is holding up the drive against Priluki. The Russians are investing Romny from three sides and are closing in from the east and along the railway from the north and south. The German defence south-west of Kharkov, after weeks of steady hammering, is beginning to crumble. The toughness of the fighting can be gauged from the fact that the battles still continue only 25 miles west of Kharkov. Advances South-west ol Kharkov The Red Army thrust forward several miles in the German salient southwest of Kharkov, which covers the important railway centres of Poltava and Pavlograd. Last week's ceaseless hammering by the Russians in this area is at last beginning to have effect and the German defenders are showing signs of weakening. Advances along the norti coast of the Sea of Azov continue steadily and the Germans have been pushed back another 10 miles. The Russians are landing groups of marines at points along the coast in the German rear. These forces seize positions on the road along which the enemy is retreating and ambush his columns. A German High Command communique . reports heavy street fighting in Novorossisk.

ENVOYS TO MOSCOW BRITISH AND AMERICAN LONDON, Sept. 14 The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, is going to Moscow with Mr. Averill Harriman, Lend-Lease Supervisor, in Britain, shortly after Mr. Churchill's return from Washington, says the diplomatic correspondent of the Evening Standard. The United States Secretary of State. Mr. Cordell Hull, is coming to London in October in connection with the proposed Three Power Conference. While Mr. Harriman may succeed Admiral Standley as United States Ambassador in Moscow, his present mission is largely to ensure increased food supplies for Russia throughout the winter. THREE POWER MEETING ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND LONDON, Sept. 15 Asked whether lie had made progress in connection with the Three Power meeting with Marshal Stalin, President Roosevelt, at his press conference in Washington yesterday, replied in the affirmative. CABINET RESIGNS GOVERNMENT OF BOLIVIA LA PAZ, Sept. 14 The Boli-vian Cabinet has resigned, stating that it desired to give the President, General Enrique Penaranda, complete liberty to carry out a reorganisation of the'tabinet. It was previously announced that the Cabinet would resign at the conclusion of an inquiry by the Chamber of Deputies into the Government's handling of a strike at the Catavi tin mine, in which 19 strikers were killed. A Parliamentary manoeuvre, however, recently terminated the inquiry before the verdict was given. It is anticipated that President Penaranda will reappoint most of the Ministers.

ATTACKS ON SHIPPING SQUADRONS OF TYPHOONS LONDON, Sept. 14 Typhoon bombers of the R.A.F. were active again to-day in harassing enemy shipping, when aircraft from two squadrons together sank one small vessel, left four on fire, and damaged six others in the face of intense anti-air-craft fire from shore batteries and ships. The New Zealand Squadron attacked with cannon from sea level off Cherbourg. They left a tug well on fire and sinking, and also set fire to a naval auxiliary vessel of 1000 tons and damaged two escorting E-boats and 11boats. Another Typhoon squadron, which flew ten miles up the mouth of the Biver Scheldt, among Dutch islands, set two coastal vessels on fire, sank a harbour launch, and damaged three large sea-going_ barges and a tug. A Spitfire, with cannon and machinegun fire, also damaged a coastal vessel of 500 tons off Dunkirk. All Allied aircraft returned safely.

ADRIFT AT SEA COURAGE AND ENDURANCE LONDON, Sept. 15 The George Medal has been awarded to two young British Merchant Navy apprentices for remarkable courage and endurance displayed during an ordeal in an open boat after their ship had been torpedoed. For eight days the.v were adrift in the open sea in exceptionally bad weather. During that time 31 of the 38 occupants of the boat died from exposure. One of the apprentices suffered intense pain from exposure and frostbite and has since had both legs amputated just below the knee and he also lost the tips of his fingers on both hands. Throughout the ordeal in the boat he showed great determination and cheerfulness. He gave invaluable help to the other apprentice, who, by superb seamanship, navigated the boat until it was sighted by aircraft. He also maintained discipline and looked after the survivors. DUTCH COAST SKIRMISH LONDON, Sept. 14 A naval skirmish off the coast of Holland is reported in an Admiralty communique. While on patrol off the coast of Holland, near Ijmuiden, coastal forces engaged a group of enemy patrol vessels. One enemy vessel Was torpedoed and two other hits were J possibly scored. All the British ships returned safely. One rating was slightly wounded. TWO SUBMARINES LOST LONDON, Sept. 14 "The United States submarine Grenadier has failed to return from patrol operations and must be presumed lost," states a United States Navy Department communique. "In the .Mediterranean area on August 23, a United States submarine and two sub-chasers were sunk as a, result of enemy bombing."