EXTENSION OF BRIDGEHEADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24850, 23 March 1944, Page 5

EXTENSION OF BRIDGEHEADS

FURTHER PROGRESS TOWARD ODESSA (Received March 22, 11.16 p.m.) LONDON. March 22 The Russians driving forward into Bessarabia across the Dniester have cut a railway within 30 miles of the border of Rumania. The railway runs between the junctions of Cernauti and Balti, both of which are important to the Germans either for sending up reinforcements or for getting men away. The cutting of the line was part of the Russian push to extend their bridgehead across the Dniester. The troops who captured Mogilev have crossed the river and stormed the district centre of Ataki. A late message says Soviet spearheads are closing in toward Balti junction from the north-east and north. Reuter's correspondent in Moscow says the fighting beyond the Dniester is increasing in intensity as the Germans bring up fresh reserves to avert the Russian threat to Balti. Soviet bridgeheads above and below Soroki are growing as fresh localities fall to the Russians and are incorporated in the Bessarabia territory which has been regained. Russian troops advancing from Vinnitsa and Jmerinka have cleared the Germans from 1 50 more towns and villages and pushed their line here closer to the Dniester. Soviet forces on the lower Ukrainian front heading south down the railway toward Odessa have reached the River Bug. The German bridgehead across the river is rapidly shrinking. A Soviet communique says that south-west of Novo Ukrainka the Russians captured two district centres in the Odessa region. Bladodatnaya and Arbuzinka, both in the area of Pervomaisk. Mobile Soviet units south-west of Dubno are reported to have made a 20-mile dash to capture a town within 60 miles of the great German base of Lwow. Another message says the fall of Brody is considered imminent.