RUSSIAN ADVANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24775, 24 December 1943, Page 7

RUSSIAN ADVANCE

ISSUES ON KIEV FRONT

COUNTER-MOVES FRUSTRATED FORWARD IN TEETH OF NAZIS (Real. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 23 The long-drawn-out battles in the Kiev bulge have again favoured the Russians. Yesterday the Germans began strong new counter-attacks east of Korosten, on the fringe of the bulge. The Russians stood their ground against the tanks and infantry, and then went forward in the teeth of the enemy attack. They have since held on to the ground they gained. In the Dnieper bend the enemy tried the same tactics south-east of Kirovo, but again the Russians did not yield (in inch. The Germans, according to the News Chronicle correspondent, only succeeded in weakening themselves still further. Germans are fiercely attacking southeast of Kirovo in an attempt to wedge into the Russian lines between Kirovo and Ivrivoi Hog. They are bringing up considerable tank and infantry reinforcements from other sectors, but, according to the Moscow newspaper Izvestia, in three days of fighting they have not achieved anything.

A Soviet communique says that southeast of Kirovo two companies of German tommv-gunners trying to drive a wedge into'the Russian positions were surrounded and wiped out. A German-controlled Scandinavian newspaper says the Germans may soon abandon Nikopol, their southernmost stronghold in the Dnieper bend.

GERMAN SECRET WEAPON

ROCKET-TYPE PROJECTILE (Reed. 12.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. "23 "The Allies know enough about Germany's latest secret weapon to regard it as no bluff, and have its factorv alread.v under fire," said a Readers' Digest correspondent, Allan Michie, on arrival from London. He added: "Officials have been gathering information from refugees and agents for five months. They do not know all the details, but are reasonably sure it is a rocket-type projectile weighing approximately 50 tons, 40 tons of which is propulsion material and 10 tons explosive, which can be shot from the French coast to England. It may cause havoc for a short time, but can only delay, not change, the outcome ot the war." Mr. Michie added that the Royal Air Force raided the hitherto unimportant German* town of Peenemund, killing 5000 workmen, including hundreds of highly-skilled artisans, and destroying blueprints and important machinery. "The secret weapon has not yet been used," said Mr. Michie. "You must draw your own inference." USE OF GAS IN CHINA EXHIBITS SHOWN TO ALLIES CHUNGKING. Dec. 22 At the headquarters of the Chinese Army' in Northern Hunan Chinese officers' produced for visiting British, American and Russian military observers equipment which had been captured from the Japanese as proof of Chinese statements that the Japanese used gas during the recent fighting in tlfe "rice bowl" area. The equipment consisted of a number of canisters and shells which, it was stated, the Japanese used for tear gas, sneezing gas arid suffocating gas. Lieutenant-General Liang: Han Ming said that the most violent gas the Japanese used in the Hunan theatre was a suffocating gas, which incapaci T tated its victims for an hour or more. No fatalities, however, were reported.

Exhibits included a 2ft, mustard gas cylinder which was dropped from the air at Yuna River last May. It was not claimed that the Japanese used mustard gas in Hunan, but it was asserted tnat they used it on other fronts.

CHINESE PURSUE ENEMY (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) CHUNGKING, I>e<:. 22 Chinese troops are pursuing the retreating Japanese in the North Hunan Province, and they have made considerable progress after clearing the enemy from both banks of the Li River, 60 miles north of Changte, says a Chinese communique. Farther north the Chinese forces are reported to be mopping up the Japanese along the west bank of the Yangtse, south of the port of lohang.

NO MORE PROPHECIES (Reed. 12.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 23 Last New Year's Day Admiral Halsey, Allied commander in the South Pacific, predicted the complete and absolute defeat of the Axis Powers before the end of 1943. Reminded of the forecast at his headquarters today, he said: "I refuse to gaze into the crvstal ball any more. We do not know how long the war will last. Only God knows."

OPERATIONS IN BURMA (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 23

Increased activity against the Japanese in Burma is reported from New Delhi. On the Arakan front British and Glmrka troops are edging forward among the hills and bringing the Allied line nearer the road between Mani|;da\v and Buthidaung.

MINISTER'S ARREST CHARGE AGAINST YUGOSLAV LONDON, Dec. 22 The Daily Worker reports that* the authorities in Cairo arrested Ivo Chichinshain, Finance Minister in the Yugoslav Government in exile. Chichinshain was detained for questioning on suspicion of trafficking with the enemy. His arrest was ordered on information supplied by General Roatta, who terrorised Yugoslavia after the Italian occupation in 1942. General Rnattn organised General Mikhailoviclrs Chetniks on behalf of Mussolini's Government. Chichinshain joined the Yugoslav Government in exile two years ago. Roatta was appointed Chief of Staff to the Italian Army in June in succession to General Rossi. In November it was announced that the Italian Government had been asked to remove Roatta. A few days later it was announced that Roatta had been dismissed. This was the first move made by the Badoglio Government to rid the army of former Fascist commanders who were aocused of infamous conduct.