BIG OFFENSIVE

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

BIG OFFENSIVE

NEW SOVIET GAINS INVESTING VITEBSK BATTLES ALONG ROAD PLANES PUESUE ENEMY (Reed. 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 23 The big Soviet offensive in White Russia is continuing well. The Soviet armies made new gains yesterday in the face of stiffer opposition. As well as making a frontal attack on Vitebsk, the Russians are starting an enveloping movement from the north. The latest Soviet communique says 20 more places were taken. These places are for the most pai't 20 to 25 miles north of Vitebsk, says the News Chronicle correspondent in Moscow. The principal town in this area is Gorodok, 20 miles up the railway line. One Soviet spearhead in this area is 17 miles away from another railway line that runs northwest out of Vitebsk to Polotsk.

Descending Frozen River Valleys

The Russian forces menacing Gorodok. the last big railway town before Vitebsk, are engaged in violent battles on either side of the main road and railway from Nevel to Vitebsk, says the Times correspondent in Moscow. The Russian right wing is at the same time descending the valleys along the courses of many frozen rivers.

They are thrusting toward the German communications which connect the most northerly White Russian fortress city with the vital base of Polotsk. The right wing has succeeded in pinning down a substantial part of the German forces in this region. Soviet troops and cavalry have continued to mop up the German groups routed south of Nevel, says a Moscow message. Roads jammed with enemy transport, are converted into ribbons of fire by tree-top sweeps of Stormoviks. Fleeing from the flaming roads, t German infantry retreating from the NevelVitebsk railway are scattered over the snow-covered fields and yroodlrftids. One group when encircled lost 400 killed.

Air War Stepped Up Earlier Moscow messages said both aides had been stepping up in the air. The Russians used 100 Stormoviks for an hour to blast strong German defence positions. Others strafed demoralised Isazi columns retreating along the roads. In reply the Luftwaffe threw in formations of 30 to 40 bombers with fighter escorts. South of Nevel the Russian fighters shot down 30 enemy machines in one morning. The Germans have lost the whole system of fortifications built in< the summer. In spite of intensie artillery and mortar crossfire, the Russians broke through under the cover of a snowstorm and disrupted the German front-by a double manoeuvre to the south-west and northeast. The Germans sent a picked emergency force to close the breach and surround the Russian troops, but., the force was dispersed and routed piecemeal.

The Soviet magazine Pravda say that, when the Red Army broke through the German lines north of Vitebsk, German division-s were slashed to pieces. The Germans, cut off from each other and v ousted from their strongholds, were overcome. In panic, they stampeded through forests and marshes, abandoning lorries and weapons. They were surrounded. About 100 Stormoviks had previously strafed the German defences for an hour. The Germans put up about 270 planes over the battlefield during the day in an attempt to stem the Russian advance.

RUMANIAN WITHDRAWAL (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22 According to the Cairo radio Rumania has ordered the evacuation of territory between the Dniester and Bug Rivers. Renter's correspondent says this means the withdrawal of Rumanian troops from all Russian territory. However,,it still leaves the disputed frontier province of Bessarabia in Rumanian hands.

RUSSIA' AND THE ALLIES (R«cd. 5.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 23 The Teheran conference eliminated a number of tenacious prejudices which existed among certain British and American circles—the belief that there existed insurmountable obstacles in the way of the Soviet Union's co-operation with Other countries, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press.

FINLAND'S WAR AIMS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. '22 The Russian review War and the Working Class states that captured Finnish documents dated February 27 show that Finland's official war aim is the annexation of East Ka'relia and the capture of the Murmansk railway. The review contrasts the "plot" with recent Finnish diplomatic moves "representing Finland as a peace-loving democracy."

NEW ARCHBISHOP SURPRISE APPOINTMENT LONDON. Dec. 22 The Press Association says the appointment of Dr. B. Griffin as Arfcnbishop of Westminster has surprised Roman Catholic circles in London. Dr. Griffin was not regarded as one of the likely candidates and his appointment was quite unexpected. The Exchange Telegraph Company says Dr. Griffin s appointment has been most favourably received among the.. Catholic clergy of Westminster. It is the first appointment made through the . Apostolic Delegation which was set up in London to represent the Vatican in Britain during the war. Dr. Griffin is probably the first red-haired man to take over the Archdiocese of Westminster and also the youngest with the exception of the late Cardinal Bourne. POST IN WEST AFRICA (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 23 The appointment is announced of Mr. Noel Hall as development adviser for West Africa. Until recently Mr. Hall was in charge of the war trading , department of the British Embassy in Washington. The appointment . was made after consultation with Lord Swin- . ton. Resident Minister and Governor of British West Africa, and the Governments of Nigeria. Gold Coast. Sierra Leone and Gambia. Mr.' Hall will leave shortly for West Africa, where he will be a member of Lord Sainton's staff. He will work on plans for post-war development.